Oct 2012-pet scan done with 2 areas of concern after breast cancer dx....had biopsy and bone scan that were both neg...all cancer treatment done and #2 pet showed same areas-no change..why bone scan?

Because: Breast cancer often spreads to the bone and a bone scan is the best way to look for it.

D/w your MD: The best person to answer your question is your doctor. Have a discussion with your doctor and see what the reason is. Most likely is the same reason your doctor did the bone scan last time- to ensure that this is also unchanged on the bone scan. Unlike the bone scan, the pet scan was not done dedicated only to check the bone. What is your cancer marker, alkaline phosphatase level? D/w your md.

Bone scan after a: Pet not very helpful. If there is a suspicious bone lesion, the solution is to biopsy it to prove malignancy or benignancy. Radiology departments are usually asked to do this under ct-scan direction. A 'negative' biopsy needs to demonstrate that the needle was iin the correct location. After all is said and done, an image can be falsely positive and followed.

Both help: No one test can see everything. There are some types of bone lesions which are better seen on a bone scan, while others are better seen on a pet scan. Breast cancer can do either/both.