Help Deciphering Radiology Report

We go back to the doc later this week, so of course, we'll discuss this with him then. But, in the meantime can someone help decipher this? I know the calvarium is the base of the skull.

"Total-body images demonstrate mild asymmetric increased uptake involving the
left parietal calvarium. In comparison to the prior exam, this is slightly more
prominent today. When correlated with prior F-18 FDG PET/CT from 2015, subtle
uptake and sclerotic densities are suggested in a similar distribution."

Thanks, Donna.

Sorry, InTheShop, My original post wasn't clear. I understand that there's a slight increase. I'm wondering if this is something to be concerned about. It was the opening paragraph of the report.

Thanks, Donna

This seems to happen a lot with full workups. My wife's post chemo PET/CT report had a lot of observations referencing things that she said she "didn't know she had." We discussed it with her oncologist, and he pulled up the initial report from her first workup before she started treatment for comparison.

There it was, some mention of their findings which later was noted to have increased or decreased. As Andrew said, it's just covering bases. Sort of like when I get my oil changed the shop gives me a long list of "observations" about my car that really don't affect its performance, but that I should probably keep in mind if a problem develops later on.

I'd call it "things to take care of someday". Hope that helps.

Allen,

Below is everything that was in the report. I found this particularly scary, since it correlates to his PSA increasing from undetectable 3 months ago to 2+ as of last Wednesday. Randy is still in the EMBARK trial, so we go back this Wednesday for them to re-start Lupron and Xtandi (or placebo). The PA said the report was "fine" and that is was only using "more words" to say the same thing. The report does go on to say the findings are "relatively stable".

I don't see a reference to SUVmax, and I haven't asked about and Axumin PET scan.


CLINICAL INDICATION: Prostate cancer status post prostatectomy and radiation.
TECHNIQUE: Approximately 2-4 hours following intravenous administration of 25.3
mCi of Tc99m-MDP, whole body delayed planar images were obtained from the
anterior and posterior projections.
PRIOR STUDIES: Bone scan 9/28/2016
CORRELATIVE STUDIES: PET/CT 4/3/2015
FINDINGS:
Total-body images demonstrate mild asymmetric increased uptake involving the
left parietal calvarium. In comparison to the prior exam, this is slightly more
prominent today. When correlated with prior F-18 FDG PET/CT from 2015, subtle
uptake and sclerotic densities are suggested in a similar distribution.
Other areas of increased radiotracer uptake in the bilateral hips, knees, and
acromioclavicular joint are in a distribution most compatible with degenerative
changes.
There is normal biodistribution of the radiotracer within the genitourinary
system and soft tissues.
IMPRESSION:
1. Slightly more prominent increased uptake associated with left parietal
calvarial lesion. This finding has been relatively stable since 2015 and the
location is not typical for prostate cancer.
2. Otherwise stable exam.

Thanks, Donna.