JoniRobertWilson Posted June 7, 2004 Share Posted June 7, 2004 Do any of you have a case in which NSCLC was discovered but it had never shown up on a CT scan or x-ray? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine Posted June 7, 2004 Share Posted June 7, 2004 Could it be possible that it is in the plueral cavity as an effusion? I have heard of that. elaine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark - North Calif Posted June 8, 2004 Share Posted June 8, 2004 Hi, If memory serves me well, Xray's can only resolve images to 1 CM and CT Scans are only effective to 1 MM (based on the technology). So to answer your question, it is possible to miss a very small tumor with both methods in the early stages of the disease. I'm no expert but I believe only a tissue analysis can confirm a suspicious Xray or CTscan image. Hope this helps, Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark - North Calif Posted June 8, 2004 Share Posted June 8, 2004 Hi Again, Just reread my reply and realized that I may be off by 10X in my estimates for Xray & CTscan resolution. Even if they are 10 times more accurate, they will still miss very small tumors. That's the state of today's technology. Regards, Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharyn Posted June 8, 2004 Share Posted June 8, 2004 I know there is a new CT Scan available (can't remember the name of it) but Daddy has it now every three months and it is suppose to be MUCH MORE sensitive ( Spiral CAT maybe?) Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connie B Posted June 8, 2004 Share Posted June 8, 2004 I THINK, BIOPSY is the only way to find out the TYPE of lung cancer. CT's PET Scan's, X-RAYS only show the tumor, or mass or Image, whatever you wish to call it. I don't think this has changed as of yet?! Now, if your talking that the tumor didn't show up on a CT scan or X-ray, then I would say, YES this could happen! Tumor's have been known to hide. CT, X-ray, PET scans, are NOT 100% in showing all there is to show! But, there better then nothing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelb Posted June 10, 2004 Share Posted June 10, 2004 My dad was dx on April 5th with NSCLC Stage IV. He had xrays, CAT scans, blood tests - ALL NORMAL.... it took a PET to finally find it. I dont know if his scanning was a fluke or the maybe the radiologists didnt know what they were looking for, I dont know, but the PET was the one to finally show up on the scans. I hope this helps. Angela Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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