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What Does My Pet Scan Report Indicate?
Question: Enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes.
Pet scan shows "intense activity" in this area and in colon area. Moderate activity in bones.
LDH and all blood tests normal.
Tested for sarcoidosis. Normal results.
Beta 2 microglobulin XXXXXXX from 2.2 to 2.6 in 3 weeks but apparently no cause for concern.
Night sweats, weight loss, chest pain (middle of chest, sternum), sore area around sternum, feeling very fatigued and generally unwell for a few months.
Tonsil and bone marrow biopsies normal. Colonoscopy and biospy normal.
Lymph node biopsy to come.
I am wondering if you can suggest to me what else this could be aside from Lymphoma. Or indeed if it could be lymphoma without any indicators coming up in the blood or other biopsies?
Pet scan shows "intense activity" in this area and in colon area. Moderate activity in bones.
LDH and all blood tests normal.
Tested for sarcoidosis. Normal results.
Beta 2 microglobulin XXXXXXX from 2.2 to 2.6 in 3 weeks but apparently no cause for concern.
Night sweats, weight loss, chest pain (middle of chest, sternum), sore area around sternum, feeling very fatigued and generally unwell for a few months.
Tonsil and bone marrow biopsies normal. Colonoscopy and biospy normal.
Lymph node biopsy to come.
I am wondering if you can suggest to me what else this could be aside from Lymphoma. Or indeed if it could be lymphoma without any indicators coming up in the blood or other biopsies?
Brief Answer:
H2 receptor blocker group of drugs
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Since your LDH and other blood tests are normal, I do not think you are having lymphoma.
The chest pain, sore area around sternum, fatigue and night sweats could be due to inflammatory conditions such as Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) which is is a chronic digestive disease.
It occurs when stomach acid or, occasionally, stomach content, flows back into your food pipe.
The backwash irritates the lining of your esophagus and causes GERD.
I would advise you to take medications to reduce acid production like H2 receptor blocker group of drugs with your doctors advise.
A test to monitor the amount of acid in your esophagus can also be done.
Ambulatory acid (pH) probe tests use a device to measure acid for 24 hours.
The device identifies when, and for how long, stomach acid regurgitates into your esophagus.
One type of monitor is a thin, flexible tube (catheter) that's threaded through your nose into your esophagus.
The tube connects to a small computer that you wear around your waist or with a strap over your shoulder.
Another type is a clip that's placed in your esophagus during endoscopy.
The probe transmits a signal, also to a small computer that you wear
After about two days, the probe falls off to be passed in your stool.
I will also advise you to not to lie down after a meal. Wait at least three hours after eating before lying down or going to bed.
Elevate the head of your bed.
Place wood or cement blocks under the feet of your bed so that the head end is raised by 6 to 9 inches.
If it's not possible to elevate your bed, you can insert a wedge between your mattress and box spring to elevate your body from the waist up.
Wedges are available at drug stores and medical supply stores. Raising your head with additional pillows is not effective.
However you must wait for the lymph node biopsy result to rule out lymphoma as it is the confirmatory test to rule out malignancy.
Regards
DR DE
H2 receptor blocker group of drugs
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Since your LDH and other blood tests are normal, I do not think you are having lymphoma.
The chest pain, sore area around sternum, fatigue and night sweats could be due to inflammatory conditions such as Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) which is is a chronic digestive disease.
It occurs when stomach acid or, occasionally, stomach content, flows back into your food pipe.
The backwash irritates the lining of your esophagus and causes GERD.
I would advise you to take medications to reduce acid production like H2 receptor blocker group of drugs with your doctors advise.
A test to monitor the amount of acid in your esophagus can also be done.
Ambulatory acid (pH) probe tests use a device to measure acid for 24 hours.
The device identifies when, and for how long, stomach acid regurgitates into your esophagus.
One type of monitor is a thin, flexible tube (catheter) that's threaded through your nose into your esophagus.
The tube connects to a small computer that you wear around your waist or with a strap over your shoulder.
Another type is a clip that's placed in your esophagus during endoscopy.
The probe transmits a signal, also to a small computer that you wear
After about two days, the probe falls off to be passed in your stool.
I will also advise you to not to lie down after a meal. Wait at least three hours after eating before lying down or going to bed.
Elevate the head of your bed.
Place wood or cement blocks under the feet of your bed so that the head end is raised by 6 to 9 inches.
If it's not possible to elevate your bed, you can insert a wedge between your mattress and box spring to elevate your body from the waist up.
Wedges are available at drug stores and medical supply stores. Raising your head with additional pillows is not effective.
However you must wait for the lymph node biopsy result to rule out lymphoma as it is the confirmatory test to rule out malignancy.
Regards
DR DE
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Hi, would GERD cause the enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes?
I have no heartburn or reflux. I do have pain in that area when I drink alcohol or occassionally if I am stressed - but they are the only times.
The pain in that part of my sternum is only new. The other issues - fatigue, weight loss, difficulty taking a deep breath/pain in chest and night sweats have been going on a while.
I have no heartburn or reflux. I do have pain in that area when I drink alcohol or occassionally if I am stressed - but they are the only times.
The pain in that part of my sternum is only new. The other issues - fatigue, weight loss, difficulty taking a deep breath/pain in chest and night sweats have been going on a while.
Brief Answer:
GERD causes inflammation
Detailed Answer:
Hi
GERD causes inflammation in the body which may cause the mediastinal lymph nodes to be enlarged.
You must not loose hope as your symptoms such as pain in sternum, weight loss fatigue and chest pain can also be due to GERD and not lymphoma.
But the lymph node biopsy test would give a clearer picture.
If you have no more clarifications then please rate the answer and close the thread.
Regards
DR DE
GERD causes inflammation
Detailed Answer:
Hi
GERD causes inflammation in the body which may cause the mediastinal lymph nodes to be enlarged.
You must not loose hope as your symptoms such as pain in sternum, weight loss fatigue and chest pain can also be due to GERD and not lymphoma.
But the lymph node biopsy test would give a clearer picture.
If you have no more clarifications then please rate the answer and close the thread.
Regards
DR DE
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
But I have no heartburn or issues with digestion etc? The only issue I have is this new sternum pain - at the very bottom of my sternum. And the chest tightness that makes it that I can't take a very deep breath. I can't even yawn properly my chest is so tight. I do not have any reflux or heartburn, no awful taste in my mouth, no voice changes etc. Wouldn't GERD produce some symptoms?????
Brief Answer:
Rule out lymphoma first
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Sometimes GERD produces symptoms such as chest tightness and sternum pain without any reflux and proton pump inhibitor group of drugs before food will give you some relief.
You can try the medicine with your doctors advise after lymphoma has been ruled out in lymph node biopsy test.
Regards
DR DE
Rule out lymphoma first
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Sometimes GERD produces symptoms such as chest tightness and sternum pain without any reflux and proton pump inhibitor group of drugs before food will give you some relief.
You can try the medicine with your doctors advise after lymphoma has been ruled out in lymph node biopsy test.
Regards
DR DE
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
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