QUESTION: Follow up PET scan for patient with a history of dendritic sacroma in subclavicular lymph node. The patient had one at 1 year and was clear? He’s asking me if he needs to go back to his oncologist and get another one, it has been 4 years. Patient is symptom free, healthy in his mid 40’s.
ANSWER: Bottom line is that if the Oncologist isn’t putting a PET into the follow up plan (and they are doing their job) then you have an open slate as to what you can do.
If no signs of cancer are present it may be fine to do no PET. If using as a ‘check in’ then in a patient healthy as you describe then maybe at 1-2 years would be a good follow up study.