MyLungCancerTeam

This must be very confusing and distressing for you. While PET scans are generally very accurate for detecting lung cancer, they can sometimes give false-negative results, especially if there's a single mass (called a solitary pulmonary nodule) that's smaller than 1 centimeter. PET scans work by detecting rapidly growing Show Full Answer

This must be very confusing and distressing for you. While PET scans are generally very accurate for detecting lung cancer, they can sometimes give false-negative results, especially if there's a single mass (called a solitary pulmonary nodule) that's smaller than 1 centimeter. PET scans work by detecting rapidly growing cells that absorb sugar quickly (which cancer cells typically do). However, not all lung cancers may show up clearly on PET scans, which is why doctors often use multiple types of imaging tests together. The combination of different testing methods, like CT scans and PET scans, helps doctors make the most accurate diagnosis possible. In some cases, a biopsy may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.

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