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Vol 8, No 2 (2005)
Submitted: 2012-01-23
Published online: 2005-06-23
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Additional value of hybrid PET/CT fusion imaging vs. conventional CT scan alone in the staging and management of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma

Valentina Ambrosini, Domenico Rubello, Cristina Nanni, Mohsen Farsad, Paolo Castellucci, Roberto Franchi, Mario Fabbri, Lucia Rampin, Giorgio Crepaldi, Adil Al-Nahhas, Stefano Fanti
Nucl. Med. Rev 2005;8(2):111-115.

open access

Vol 8, No 2 (2005)
Submitted: 2012-01-23
Published online: 2005-06-23

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite being a relatively rare disease, the incidence of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is expected to increase over the next two decades due to the long time interval elapsing between exposure to causative factors, mainly asbestos, and disease onset. Early disease stages have been reported to benefit from radical surgery. In more advanced disease stages, a multimodality treatment, including various combinations of chemotherapy, external radiotherapy and surgery, may provide some favourable results though the prognosis remains poor. In this regard, an accurate pre-treatment staging plays an important role in offering patients a more appropriate therapeutic planning. In some preliminary studies, 18F-FDG PET has proven to be able to provide useful information for staging purpose, especially for the detection of metastatic spread to lymph nodes and distant sites.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the present study, we investigated 15 consecutive patients with histologically proven MPM by means of conventional 2-mm thickness whole-body CT scan with and without contrast medium in comparison with wholebody 18F-FDG PET/CT fusion imaging.
RESULTS: 18F-FDG PET/CT did not provide additional information about the primary tumour (T) compared to CT scan, but identified a higher number of metastatic mediastinal lymph nodes (N) in 6 patients (40% of cases) and unknown metastatic disease to distant sites (M) in 3 patients (20% of cases). On the basis of PET/CT findings, treatment planning was changed in 5 patients (33.3% of cases).
CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that 18F-FDG PET/CT fusion imaging can play a relevant role in the staging and treatment planning of MPM patients.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite being a relatively rare disease, the incidence of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is expected to increase over the next two decades due to the long time interval elapsing between exposure to causative factors, mainly asbestos, and disease onset. Early disease stages have been reported to benefit from radical surgery. In more advanced disease stages, a multimodality treatment, including various combinations of chemotherapy, external radiotherapy and surgery, may provide some favourable results though the prognosis remains poor. In this regard, an accurate pre-treatment staging plays an important role in offering patients a more appropriate therapeutic planning. In some preliminary studies, 18F-FDG PET has proven to be able to provide useful information for staging purpose, especially for the detection of metastatic spread to lymph nodes and distant sites.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the present study, we investigated 15 consecutive patients with histologically proven MPM by means of conventional 2-mm thickness whole-body CT scan with and without contrast medium in comparison with wholebody 18F-FDG PET/CT fusion imaging.
RESULTS: 18F-FDG PET/CT did not provide additional information about the primary tumour (T) compared to CT scan, but identified a higher number of metastatic mediastinal lymph nodes (N) in 6 patients (40% of cases) and unknown metastatic disease to distant sites (M) in 3 patients (20% of cases). On the basis of PET/CT findings, treatment planning was changed in 5 patients (33.3% of cases).
CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that 18F-FDG PET/CT fusion imaging can play a relevant role in the staging and treatment planning of MPM patients.

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Keywords

18F-F-FDG PET/CT fusion imaging; CT scan; malignant pleural mesothelioma; staging; treatment planning

About this article
Title

Additional value of hybrid PET/CT fusion imaging vs. conventional CT scan alone in the staging and management of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma

Journal

Nuclear Medicine Review

Issue

Vol 8, No 2 (2005)

Pages

111-115

Published online

2005-06-23

Page views

673

Article views/downloads

1791

Bibliographic record

Nucl. Med. Rev 2005;8(2):111-115.

Keywords

18F-F-FDG PET/CT fusion imaging
CT scan
malignant pleural mesothelioma
staging
treatment planning

Authors

Valentina Ambrosini
Domenico Rubello
Cristina Nanni
Mohsen Farsad
Paolo Castellucci
Roberto Franchi
Mario Fabbri
Lucia Rampin
Giorgio Crepaldi
Adil Al-Nahhas
Stefano Fanti

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