If any of you have actually seen a PET scan film, it will show your heart as a large black spot. The same will often be the case at the original surgical site. There is more activity in healing or active tissue. While it is true that palpitation and visual examination are the gold standard for follow-up exams, these methods will not rule out metastases to other organs. I had fairly well developed lung tumors that did not clearly present on a standard x-ray, they did on the PET. An experienced radiologist, especially in the case of a CT/PET fusion, should be able to make a pretty reliable call. We all need to keep in mind, the distant metastases are usually our downfall, and the pet works very well for diagnosing them.