MyMyelomaTeam

Can PET scans show neuropathy or inflammation in your shoulders, forearms, and lower legs?

PET scans typically detect areas of increased metabolic activity, which often indicates active myeloma or inflammation rather than neuropathy itself. Neuropathy is nerve damage that usually doesn't show up on PET scans.

The areas Show Full Answer

Can PET scans show neuropathy or inflammation in your shoulders, forearms, and lower legs?

PET scans typically detect areas of increased metabolic activity, which often indicates active myeloma or inflammation rather than neuropathy itself. Neuropathy is nerve damage that usually doesn't show up on PET scans.

The areas lighting up on your scan could indicate:

- Active myeloma lesions
- Inflammation in those regions
- Bone involvement from myeloma

Peripheral neuropathy in myeloma commonly affects the feet, hands, and legs, causing tingling, numbness, burning sensations, or weakness. However, these nerve symptoms wouldn't typically cause areas to "light up" on a PET scan.

It's important to discuss these scan results with your oncologist. They can correlate the imaging findings with your symptoms and determine whether what you're experiencing is related to active disease, inflammation, or separate neuropathy symptoms.

If you're experiencing numbness, tingling, or pain in those areas, that could be neuropathy occurring alongside whatever the scan detected. Many MyMyelomaTeam members report neuropathy in their legs and arms as a common complication of myeloma or its treatment.

 AI-generated responses are not a substitute for medical advice. These services are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any condition or disease. Always ask your doctor about specific health concerns.

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