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A member asked:
How does pet scans work when detecting possible lymphoma? does "hot spots" mean malignancy?
3 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
No: A hot spot means an area of increased sugar utilization. Can be inflammatory, infectious or malignant.
Answered 2/19/2014
4.4k views
See below...: Lymphoma cells, like any other cancer cells, proliferate very quickly so they have a high metabolic rate. A pet scan identifies areas with high metabolic rates, therefore "hot spots" may indicate areas of malignancy; however, other conditions like infections or areas of active tissue repair are also "hot" on a pet scan. Therefore, interpretation by a qualified physician is necessary.
Answered 3/10/2018
4.3k views
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