PET/CT PSMA Scans

[CancerConcierge]

I would appreciate some feedback regarding some of my husband's findings on the two PSMA PET/CTs he had.

The findings that still niggle at the back of my mind are related to findings of low level uptake in two ribs....to date treated as not of clinical significance. No one seemed concerned about these findings, and from what I've read one rib finding is considered incidental, but couldn't find anything about two rib findings.

02/16/2022:

F18-DCFPyL PET/CT

" Faint radio tracer uptake in the left lateral fourth rib and the right lateral seventh ribs with faint sclerosis on CT. Findings are non specific as low level uptake can be seen with both benign and malignant lesions."( no SUV values for these were in the report)

06/02/2023

Gallium Ga 68 gozetotide injection

" Unchanged mild activity along the lateral right 7th rib with max SUV of 2.1 and minimal activity in lateral left 3rd rib with max SUV of 1.4 may represent benign post traumatic or fibro-osseus change.

(review at Mayo of 02/16/2022 scan showed left lateral third rib, not fourth .)

Any thoughts? Nothing burgers?

Thanks

[tango65]

The SUV values are very low. They could be false positive. I wonder if you have the SUV value of the blood pool.

Consider requesting a 3T MRI of those ribs to determine if they are metastases. Radiologist can manipulate the MRI and get an idea if the bone marrow of those ribs is abnormal.

Ribs can be irradiated but there is always radiation of the lungs etc. One has to be sure the findings are real.

[CancerConcierge in reply to tango65]

The mediastinal/blood pool SUV mean=0.9 in the 06/02/2023 scan ..

SUV values in 2022 scan were not given in the report.

Thanks for recommending the MRI as a possible follow up.

[tango65 in reply to CancerConcierge]

With values close to the blood pool, most probable false positives. To be sure try to get a 3 T MRI of those rib lesions.

Best of luck!!!

[CancerConcierge in reply to tango65]

Thanks!

[Tall_Allen]

Way too low. Common sites for false positives.

[CancerConcierge]

Thanks! That’s reassuring!

[Leaffan57]

could be places of old injuries as well.

[CancerConcierge in reply to Leaffan57]

Thanks, that would make sense

[Leaffan57 in reply to CancerConcierge]

That’s what my Mo and RO surmised. Also found out my disc in my lower back is shot… so that’s what caused my intermittent pain in my lower back… now it can be addressed .

[CancerConcierge]

Thanks for your feedback...yes, it's interesting how scans will find things that we are not looking for!!