My doctor wants to do a mediastinoscopy to get a lymph node sample to rule-out lymphoma b/c I have numerous very inflammed lymph nodes in my lungs. Can I get a PET scan to non-invasively determine if I have cancer (lymphoma) in my lungs?

Submitted by totallyfree_me Mon 01/31/2011

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A PET scan can indicate

Submitted by Ross Bonander on Fri, 02/04/2011 - 00:33.

A PET scan can indicate whether or not your nodes are cancerous, but it can not make a diagnosis. In other words, it would come back and say 'yes, it appears you have cancer in X areas' but you would still need a biopsy to make a diagnosis, especially in the case of lymphoma.

PET is used moreso for staging, before, during and after treatment.

You would definitely need a

Submitted by E.ROD528 on Fri, 02/04/2011 - 10:57.

You would definitely need a biopsy to determine the type of Lymphoma it is..

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