Vol 63, No 5 (2013)
Review paper
Published online: 2013-10-25
The role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of recurrent colorectal cancer
Agnieszka Fijołek-Warszewska, Zbigniew I. Nowecki, Grażyna Łapińska, Małgorzata Bryszewska, Izabella Kozłowicz-Gudzińska
DOI: 10.5603/NJO.2013.0038
·
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology 2013;63(5):408-414.
Vol 63, No 5 (2013)
Review article
Published online: 2013-10-25
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, including Poland. PET/CT is a relatively new diagnostic imaging method which has gained wide acceptance in oncology. The combination of anatomical imaging (CT) and metabolic imaging (PET) enables early identification of proliferative changes and thus an accurate staging of cancer. In the diagnosis of recurrent colorectal cancer, PET/CT with fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) has proven to be of high clinical value. The information obtained in this study has a significant impact on patient management. When there is suspicion of relapse, it is important to use an effective restaging tool to accurately define the extent of the recurrence and to plan the proper therapy. In the standard protocol for the 18F-FDG PET/CT study, fused images of low dose CT (without intravenous contrastagent) and PET are performed. This approach does not provide sufficient information of local tumor or invasion to adjacent organs and vessels to enable assessment of the suitability for resectability. This information is, however, available from computed tomography when intravenous contrast agent is used. Implementation of the PET/CT protocol consisting of low dose CT, with PET followed by CT with intravenous contrast agent in the corresponding region, provides in a single study all the necessary information required to qualify patients for surgery. It may in the future become the modality of choice in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer recurrence.
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, including Poland. PET/CT is a relatively new diagnostic imaging method which has gained wide acceptance in oncology. The combination of anatomical imaging (CT) and metabolic imaging (PET) enables early identification of proliferative changes and thus an accurate staging of cancer. In the diagnosis of recurrent colorectal cancer, PET/CT with fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) has proven to be of high clinical value. The information obtained in this study has a significant impact on patient management. When there is suspicion of relapse, it is important to use an effective restaging tool to accurately define the extent of the recurrence and to plan the proper therapy. In the standard protocol for the 18F-FDG PET/CT study, fused images of low dose CT (without intravenous contrastagent) and PET are performed. This approach does not provide sufficient information of local tumor or invasion to adjacent organs and vessels to enable assessment of the suitability for resectability. This information is, however, available from computed tomography when intravenous contrast agent is used. Implementation of the PET/CT protocol consisting of low dose CT, with PET followed by CT with intravenous contrast agent in the corresponding region, provides in a single study all the necessary information required to qualify patients for surgery. It may in the future become the modality of choice in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer recurrence.
Title
The role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of recurrent colorectal cancer
Journal
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology
Issue
Vol 63, No 5 (2013)
Article type
Review paper
Pages
408-414
Published online
2013-10-25
Page views
1615
Article views/downloads
20407
DOI
10.5603/NJO.2013.0038
Bibliographic record
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology 2013;63(5):408-414.
Authors
Agnieszka Fijołek-Warszewska
Zbigniew I. Nowecki
Grażyna Łapińska
Małgorzata Bryszewska
Izabella Kozłowicz-Gudzińska
About this article