My husband was originally diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer in 2007. He has been clear until his most recent check up last month. At this time, two small nodules were discovered on one lung that lit up on the PET (however, report said low FDG uptake). Another nodule was seen on the other lung but did not light up. The report also states, "Given the history of head & neck carcinoma, multiple pulmonary nodules would raise possibility of metastatic disease."

The doctor is suggesting a "wait and see" approach. This is due to the size of the nodules. He says they are so small that it would be very difficult to get an accurate biopsy. He suggests waiting until the first of the year and getting another scan to see if the nodules have grown.

The waiting part especially worries me. I am afraid while we are waiting that if it is cancer, it will spread elsewhere. The doctor says he doesn't think it will spread in that amount of time. However, I know he can't guarantee that.

I am just wondering if anyone has experienced anything similar to this and can offer any suggestions. Or, maybe someone has come across some research on this and can share.
Any input will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Sometimes a nodule is a nodule... it could really be anything... I know it's concerning. You could get a second opinion. But if he's been clear this long, and nothing else is lighting up, I would think it wasn't cancer. I could very well be wrong, and I'm sure someone else will pipe up and give their opinion, but if one isn't highlighting and the other has slow, to poor uptake, then I think waiting is okay. Good luck... I am sure someone here with more experience will give you an opinion... take care. I wish I could be of more help.

Skp...

I had my CT Scan in Sept. I sent for my medical records for that day to see what it said...There are numerous tiny pulmonary nodules which are unchanged. ( I guess I had them before) The report goes on about mild diffuse wall thickening of the bronchiloes with areas where the small peripheral bronchi nodules appear opacified. No enlarging lesion is identified...no pleural effusion is evident.

When my Surgeon was reading the report to himself he said, everything is fine see you in 6 months. Now if I had seen the report while I was there I would have questioned everything, but seeing he didn't see anything alarming he sent me on my way.

I didn't have the PET Scan my Surgeon said no to them. The scans I have are CT Scan with and without contrast.

I hope this helps it might be nothing see what happens. I know when I read mine I flaked out for a few minutes, but then I thought I have one of the best Surgeons at a Cancer Center and if he's not alarmed why should I be. I would ask for a CT Scan with and without contrast.

Take care,
Connie

Please keep in mind that in modern practice, a combined PET/CT scan is almost always performed. So, if you had a PET, you also had a CT.

CT and MRI isolate organic anatomic changes in the body, PET detect areas of molecular biology detail (often even prior to anatomic change). The PET/CT is just a fusion of this organic and molecular biology and is now normally just referred to as a PET Scan.

Hi Skp...

I have multiple nodules in my lungs and just today completed a lung biopsy at MDACC. I should know the results tomorrow, and am nervous because the oncologists are 98% sure that it is possibly mets. Still hoping for that 2% chance that it may not be mets. You might read about my situation on this thread

http://oralcancersupport.org/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=143182&page=1

Hope all turns out well for you!

Best Regards,
Chetan

Here's to hoping the oncologists are 98% wrong... Chetan fingers crossed and prayers said for you. It's moved so very quickly!