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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Does Normal PET Scan In A Person With Malignant Ascites Indicate?

A family friend of mine has been diagnosed with malignant ascites with no definite location of cancer. She s being bounced around from DR to DR. They suspect stomach cancer but her PET scan showed no hot spots. I am trying to help her through this process. We are just confused as to the cause of it. She has an extreme ulcer that she has been dealing with for a year. Original biopsy of ulcer came back negative. They are doing another endoscopy this week with ultrasound and deeper biopsy. She has lost over 60lbs this year and severe muscle mass. Nobody will give her an answer or outlook. Everything I m reading online states that malignant ascites has a bad prognosis. But why doesn t anything show up on a PET scan?
Wed, 8 Jul 2015
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General Surgeon,  's  Response
Hi.
Thanks for your query and history.
Read and understood your concern for your friend with malignant ascites.
I hope the fluid from abdomen shows cancer cells as a confirmed diagnosis.
PET scam has its own limitations, it may not show up everything.
Malignant ascites means stage 4 disease and mrefs palliative treatment.
Some anticancer injections are available to be instilled in the abdominal cavity to help the patient.
Take her to the cancer hospital for further advise and care.
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What Does Normal PET Scan In A Person With Malignant Ascites Indicate?

Hi. Thanks for your query and history. Read and understood your concern for your friend with malignant ascites. I hope the fluid from abdomen shows cancer cells as a confirmed diagnosis. PET scam has its own limitations, it may not show up everything. Malignant ascites means stage 4 disease and mrefs palliative treatment. Some anticancer injections are available to be instilled in the abdominal cavity to help the patient. Take her to the cancer hospital for further advise and care.