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F-18 Sodium PET/CT Scan..

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Posted 10/29/2015 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
In today's world of advanced imaging technology, where does a F-18 Sodium PET / CT fall??

Insurance companies pretty much dictate how advanced cancer patients will be treated..Unless metastasis to the bones or other organs can be demonstrated, many drugs and therapies are refused insurance coverage...So.....Is the above scanning technique the state of the art method of ferreting out cancer lesions that were undetectable just a few years ago? Has anyone here undergone this procedure? If so, what is to be expected?
Posted 10/29/2015 1:53 AM (GMT 0)
With the exception of a clinical trial I joined for the DCFBC PSMA scan at NIH, the F18 Sodium Pet/CT has been the only scan I've been getting every 6 months.

Fairly easy and faster scan than traditional bone scan. Injection, followed by sitting for an hour, then about 35 minutes in a double donut machine...one ct, one pet... the ct is low dose just for attenuation.

Supposed to be more sensitive then traditional, but can have more false positives. Probably the best for bone lesions, but not soft tissue...

Always covered for me by insurance.
Posted 10/29/2015 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Jerry, good info...
Posted 10/29/2015 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
I had the C11/Choline scan at Mayo.

Is that one better than the other?

Insurance covered mine. Would insurance cover the F-18 Sodium one?

Mel
Posted 10/29/2015 10:25 AM (GMT 0)
You guys have good insurance plans as mine wont cover the CT Pet scan. I had 2 of them anyways as part of a clinical study but other than that I have to get the traditional bone scan.
Posted 10/29/2015 1:03 PM (GMT 0)
I should clarify. I always initially get denied for the f18 scan. However, after a short appeal process and/or a peer to peer with my doctor and the ins co., I have always gotten them approved.
Posted 10/29/2015 3:26 PM (GMT 0)
When My Onco thought it would be a good idea for me to have one, he also mentioned "it will take us a couple of days to get approval..."

ADT has given me 5 years of remission and a relatively normal life. But I have entered the "hormone refractory" stage and more advanced treatment is called for. The F-18 scan is the first step going down the slippery slope....
Posted 10/29/2015 3:51 PM (GMT 0)
Fairwind:

What a strange PSA sequence. It seemed to be going up little by little, then dropped, but alas, as you said, it looks like it is rising more significantly. I hope you get another downward surprise.

Mel, so far in my HT successful phase, but I'm sure following your footsteps
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