Bone lesions, this looks like grey area so far, any helpers?

Not only myself but some others are looking into dealing with bone lesions or mets areas, so far I admit not knowing to darn much in this area. Already seems like all other PCa issues less than wonderful definity and treatments vs. non-treatments, overall assessments and how that is calulated or maybe this is all crapshoot type of thing, I don't know. It can be benign or even not threatening to some degree if it is a Hemangiomas. I found this at bonetumor.org and will show link after this summary:
Summary

Hemangiomas are benign bone lesions characterized by vascular spaces lined with endothelial cells. Approximately 50% of osseous hemangiomas are found in the vertebral bodies (thoracic especially) and 20% are located in the calvarium. The remaining lesions are found in the tibia, femur and humerus.

Peak incidence occurs in the 50s.
Hemangiomas are largely asymptomatic, usually found incidentally.

Appearance on X-ray is dependent on location. The lesions are often poorly defined, appearing as a somewhat localized area of abundant, dilated vessels, some of which may be on the surface of the bone, within the cortex of the bone, or extend into the medullary cavity. (end)

So, with a lesion on your spine area somewhere is it just assumed it is cancer(in many PCa patients getting opinions from scans) and/or is it necessary to biopsy it, or can it be determined and in a decent method(s)???? Anybody got any thoughts, ideas or answers or weblinks for further education????
http://www.bonetumor.org/tumors-bone/hemangioma (google searched)

The T area vertebrate(s) is thoracic and much higher up the spine than L (lumbars). Wondering about risk factors for non-treatment of suspected lesion 1/2" at T9, what is the general prognosis if it is PCa or how significant is taking the risk for radiation on the spot vs. not radiating or waiting? Risk of side effects in related areas or overall???

Anyone with educational weblinks or information, it could be helpful to alot of people herein.

Post Edited (zufus) : 12/17/2012 6:38:44 PM (GMT-7)

Thanks for the info, I know some about the bone drugs and a little on the bone radiations ideas. Right now my onco and rad-doc are pushing for me to get T9 lesion radiated now, I can assume also it is a real PCa lesion but then after reading that info article I posted gets you questioning it, cause it was not biopsied. But, they did find only on MRI not Ct and bone scans, nearby lymphnodes to T9 that seem cancerous also, so that would increase the odds alot I presume. I probably will get this zapped soon and hope I have no huge nasty side effects added, I am not a fan of Murphy's laws.

Will look at the info you submitted, appreciate your input and as you can figure I question about everything, before jumping to quick usually. Lots of tough decisions in fighting this sob, as you grasp. Thanks for your reply.

Jerry- thanks for the information, shows how these scans very on what they might find and when...F18 and some of the other brand scans C-11 and such seem to be a better mouse trap. I can understand wanting to stay away from jaw necrosis, so monitoring such drugs is important. Sure wish they could clone Myers and have more locations available. Did you ever experience bone pains or anything after radiation on the one spot you did prior???

Zufus:  Here's an article that has to do with Breast Cancer and bone mets but I do believe it would pertain to prostate also or at least give some general ideas.  I saved it and hadn't read it in a while but I believe it talks about areas that are most affected by mets.  Anyway here it is.

http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/31/4/387.full.pdf

Good Luck

David

Zufus,

One thing we learned about bone scans and lesions was that depending on where you had them read at you might receive totally conflicting information.

For example, the bone scan that was read at a local hospital noted many of my Dad's lesions as being metastic. It scared us to death. He had another scan done at the cancer center and it was read by doctor's specializing PCa cancer and comparing to other patients. They indicated many of the lesions were not lesions at all but rather degenerative disease. This made more sense to us because his bone pain in those areas comes and goes like arthritis whereas mets pain is always there.

Just some food for thought I guess.

Zufus. I had a lesion on my spine show up in both a bone scan and MRI. Based upon the location my uro and radiation oncologist were convinced in was Pca and pelvic radiation was put on hold. I second CT scanwith Gadolinium showed that it was only a hemangioma. I came very close to spot radiation and had to push for the second scan. bb