Soft tissue thickening?
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Soft tissue thickening?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Soft tissue thickening?

  • Post
    • March 19, 2014 at 8:10 pm
    BrianP
    Participant

      Has anyone on IPI or Nivo seen soft tissue thickening in the small intestines reported on their scans.  Report says "concerning for worsening metastatic disease.  Have an appointment Monday to discuss with oncologist but was curious if anyone else had seen this.  I know Ipi and Nivo can cause some havoc in the GI tract so I'm hoping that's the case.

      Brian

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    • Replies
        • March 19, 2014 at 10:23 pm
        POW
        Participant

          I think that there are several reasons why the intestinal wall can appear to be "thickened"; melnaoma is only one of them. However, it is notoriously difficult to see tumors in and around the intestines via CT scan– the intestines move continuously and mess up the image. 

          I know that Kevin had a "thickening" of the intestine that was suspicious for melanoma. Then he had a PET scan that showed that it was a small tumor. When the surgeon removed it, it was the size of an apple. Luckily, in Kevin's case there was only one tumor so he is now NED.

          You can read his posts by searching for kpcollins and for his wife Megan's posts (mwcollins). Kevin and Megan documented this part of their journey very thoroughly.

           

          • March 19, 2014 at 10:23 pm
          POW
          Participant

            I think that there are several reasons why the intestinal wall can appear to be "thickened"; melnaoma is only one of them. However, it is notoriously difficult to see tumors in and around the intestines via CT scan– the intestines move continuously and mess up the image. 

            I know that Kevin had a "thickening" of the intestine that was suspicious for melanoma. Then he had a PET scan that showed that it was a small tumor. When the surgeon removed it, it was the size of an apple. Luckily, in Kevin's case there was only one tumor so he is now NED.

            You can read his posts by searching for kpcollins and for his wife Megan's posts (mwcollins). Kevin and Megan documented this part of their journey very thoroughly.

             

            • March 19, 2014 at 10:23 pm
            POW
            Participant

              I think that there are several reasons why the intestinal wall can appear to be "thickened"; melnaoma is only one of them. However, it is notoriously difficult to see tumors in and around the intestines via CT scan– the intestines move continuously and mess up the image. 

              I know that Kevin had a "thickening" of the intestine that was suspicious for melanoma. Then he had a PET scan that showed that it was a small tumor. When the surgeon removed it, it was the size of an apple. Luckily, in Kevin's case there was only one tumor so he is now NED.

              You can read his posts by searching for kpcollins and for his wife Megan's posts (mwcollins). Kevin and Megan documented this part of their journey very thoroughly.

               

                • March 20, 2014 at 6:20 pm
                HopefulOne
                Participant

                  Hi Brian. My husband had ipi and had a PET approximately six months after his infusions that lit up at his small bowel, noted as small bowel thickening on the report. follow-up CT a month later showed a 2cm mass. I'm actually waiting for him to come out of surgery as I write this. I'm hoping your area of concern is from the ipi and nothing else. The good thing is you're following up with your doctor. Hang in there. Sending positive energy. Kimberly

                  • March 20, 2014 at 6:20 pm
                  HopefulOne
                  Participant

                    Hi Brian. My husband had ipi and had a PET approximately six months after his infusions that lit up at his small bowel, noted as small bowel thickening on the report. follow-up CT a month later showed a 2cm mass. I'm actually waiting for him to come out of surgery as I write this. I'm hoping your area of concern is from the ipi and nothing else. The good thing is you're following up with your doctor. Hang in there. Sending positive energy. Kimberly

                    • March 20, 2014 at 6:20 pm
                    HopefulOne
                    Participant

                      Hi Brian. My husband had ipi and had a PET approximately six months after his infusions that lit up at his small bowel, noted as small bowel thickening on the report. follow-up CT a month later showed a 2cm mass. I'm actually waiting for him to come out of surgery as I write this. I'm hoping your area of concern is from the ipi and nothing else. The good thing is you're following up with your doctor. Hang in there. Sending positive energy. Kimberly

                      • March 20, 2014 at 8:25 pm
                      BrianP
                      Participant

                        Thanks Kimberly,

                        Prayers for your husband for a successful surgery and smooth recovery.  I had a small bowel resection in May and although no surgery is a cake walk, the recovery from the bowel resection wasn't nearly as bad as I was anticipating. 

                        Thanks for your reply.  I find it interesting that the CT found the mass.  It usually seems like PETs are a little better at finding mets in the GI tract.  It's a very tough area to find things for sure. 

                        Brian

                        • March 20, 2014 at 8:25 pm
                        BrianP
                        Participant

                          Thanks Kimberly,

                          Prayers for your husband for a successful surgery and smooth recovery.  I had a small bowel resection in May and although no surgery is a cake walk, the recovery from the bowel resection wasn't nearly as bad as I was anticipating. 

                          Thanks for your reply.  I find it interesting that the CT found the mass.  It usually seems like PETs are a little better at finding mets in the GI tract.  It's a very tough area to find things for sure. 

                          Brian

                          • March 20, 2014 at 8:25 pm
                          BrianP
                          Participant

                            Thanks Kimberly,

                            Prayers for your husband for a successful surgery and smooth recovery.  I had a small bowel resection in May and although no surgery is a cake walk, the recovery from the bowel resection wasn't nearly as bad as I was anticipating. 

                            Thanks for your reply.  I find it interesting that the CT found the mass.  It usually seems like PETs are a little better at finding mets in the GI tract.  It's a very tough area to find things for sure. 

                            Brian

                          • March 20, 2014 at 11:20 am
                          kpcollins31
                          Participant

                            Brian – I just sent you an email to explain my experience. I will also post details here for the benefit of others… when they conducted the CT scan of my abdomen, here was the exact language used in the finding: "Thickening of the small bowel wall in the left lower quadrant with suspected small bowel mass, raising the concern for metastatic disease. PET/CT is suggested for further evaluation."

                            When they conducted the PET, my oncologist viewed the images for the first time with me watching – it was really clear that the scan lit up in a localized spot. It did surprise me how large and bright that location was compared to the PET scan that confirmed the spread to a single lymph node a year and a half ago. Seeing what looked like a sun glowing in my abdomen was not really encouraging to say the least.

                            When they did the surgery and removed the tumor, it was attached to the outer wall of the small intestine. I think that is why they would refer to "thickening." A PET scan seems like the next step for you. Hopefully, it is nothing. Praying for that outcome for you. Keep us posted.

                            Kevin 

                            • March 20, 2014 at 11:20 am
                            kpcollins31
                            Participant

                              Brian – I just sent you an email to explain my experience. I will also post details here for the benefit of others… when they conducted the CT scan of my abdomen, here was the exact language used in the finding: "Thickening of the small bowel wall in the left lower quadrant with suspected small bowel mass, raising the concern for metastatic disease. PET/CT is suggested for further evaluation."

                              When they conducted the PET, my oncologist viewed the images for the first time with me watching – it was really clear that the scan lit up in a localized spot. It did surprise me how large and bright that location was compared to the PET scan that confirmed the spread to a single lymph node a year and a half ago. Seeing what looked like a sun glowing in my abdomen was not really encouraging to say the least.

                              When they did the surgery and removed the tumor, it was attached to the outer wall of the small intestine. I think that is why they would refer to "thickening." A PET scan seems like the next step for you. Hopefully, it is nothing. Praying for that outcome for you. Keep us posted.

                              Kevin 

                              • March 20, 2014 at 11:20 am
                              kpcollins31
                              Participant

                                Brian – I just sent you an email to explain my experience. I will also post details here for the benefit of others… when they conducted the CT scan of my abdomen, here was the exact language used in the finding: "Thickening of the small bowel wall in the left lower quadrant with suspected small bowel mass, raising the concern for metastatic disease. PET/CT is suggested for further evaluation."

                                When they conducted the PET, my oncologist viewed the images for the first time with me watching – it was really clear that the scan lit up in a localized spot. It did surprise me how large and bright that location was compared to the PET scan that confirmed the spread to a single lymph node a year and a half ago. Seeing what looked like a sun glowing in my abdomen was not really encouraging to say the least.

                                When they did the surgery and removed the tumor, it was attached to the outer wall of the small intestine. I think that is why they would refer to "thickening." A PET scan seems like the next step for you. Hopefully, it is nothing. Praying for that outcome for you. Keep us posted.

                                Kevin 

                                • March 21, 2014 at 5:31 pm
                                Rebecca and Bob
                                Participant

                                  Hi Brian,

                                   

                                  Definitely get a follow up Petscan but my husband had that on his report after he had surgery for 3 mets in his small Intestine. It actually ended up being some scar tissue for the overlapping of surgery. I hope you get good news today.

                                  Rebecca

                                  • March 21, 2014 at 5:31 pm
                                  Rebecca and Bob
                                  Participant

                                    Hi Brian,

                                     

                                    Definitely get a follow up Petscan but my husband had that on his report after he had surgery for 3 mets in his small Intestine. It actually ended up being some scar tissue for the overlapping of surgery. I hope you get good news today.

                                    Rebecca

                                    • March 21, 2014 at 5:31 pm
                                    Rebecca and Bob
                                    Participant

                                      Hi Brian,

                                       

                                      Definitely get a follow up Petscan but my husband had that on his report after he had surgery for 3 mets in his small Intestine. It actually ended up being some scar tissue for the overlapping of surgery. I hope you get good news today.

                                      Rebecca

                                      • March 22, 2014 at 5:31 pm
                                      Maureen038
                                      Participant

                                        Hoping and praying that you find out good news on Monday,Brian. Please let us know. I love your profile picture of your beautiful family!

                                        Maureen

                                        • March 22, 2014 at 5:31 pm
                                        Maureen038
                                        Participant

                                          Hoping and praying that you find out good news on Monday,Brian. Please let us know. I love your profile picture of your beautiful family!

                                          Maureen

                                          • March 22, 2014 at 5:31 pm
                                          Maureen038
                                          Participant

                                            Hoping and praying that you find out good news on Monday,Brian. Please let us know. I love your profile picture of your beautiful family!

                                            Maureen

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