small nodule/PET scan necessary?

[vls92]

I am a 43 year old F non-smoker (but inhaled parent's second-hand smoke for the first 18 years and mother smoked while she was pregnant with me).  For the past year I haven't felt "right" so I had a "virtual physical" (CT scan) a month ago. It showed a small nodule (6.9 mm x 12.7 mm) in the middle lobe of my right long..."hyperdense mass, with heterogeneous attenuation and areas of calcification.  Findings are non-specific and this may represent a granuloma, however, a neoplastic process cannot be completely excluded."  
I went to a pulmonary specialist.  I had taken a 2 year old chest x-ray in which he believed he saw the same mass, but couldn't be sure.  He took an x-ray but because the nodule was hidden behind a rib so he couldn't see it well.  He put me on an antibiotic (Levaquin - that's another story - I had a serious adverse affect and stopped taking it after 5 days - then he put me on Ceftin and I had an allergic reaction! That had never happened before.)  He suspected an infection but the short antibiotic treatment didn't apparently clear it up so he took another x-ray.  Again he couldn't see it because of the rib.  He ordered a CT.  I had this second CT.  It says the nodule is "indeterminate."  It also says it's "1.0 X 1.5" on the actual scan.

The doctor wants me to have a PET scan to rule out malignancy.  So far I've had two CT scans and 2 x-rays in one month.  I am concerned about another radiation exposure, esp. involving nuclear medicine.  Are all these tests going to give me cancer?  Do you think this PET scan is necessary since I'm not a smoker?  Thanks.

[National Jewish]

Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning is not perfect.  However, it appears to be a very accurate test to know if a nodule is benign or malignant.  It is important that the person looking at the images have skill and experience in interpreting the results.

You are right to be concerned about the effects of your radiation exposure.  The amount of radiation from the CT scans, chest x-rays, and the contemplated PET scan is not inconsiderable, but is very low.  For example, your radiation exposure from these tests does not come close to the amount of radiation used for the treatment of cancer.  Without a PET scan it may not be possible to tell that the nodule is benign or malignant.  Another course of action is surgery to remove the nodule.  The slight risk from the radiation exposure of a PET scan almost certainly outweighs having surgery.

[AndyRRT]

Absolutely not. You havent had that many exposures to even consider being at risk!

[RTFLY]

I hope everything comes out OK. A PET scan is a rather pricey test but your doctor sees a reason to have it done. Inhaling second hand smoke can certainly be a risk factor albeit not that of a regular smoker. As for your risk factors, neither myself nor anyone else knows your history except for your physician, which leads me back to my first statement...your physician obviously has a reason to have it done so my advice would be to have it done. Good luck...
                                        J.C.I. BS, RRT