TITLE:
The Role of 18F-FDG-PET/CT in the Management of Patients with High-Risk Breast Cancer: Case Series and Guideline Comparison
AUTHORS:
Ben F. Bulten, Marie J. de Haas, Haiko J. Bloemendal, Adriaan J. van Overbeeke, Jan Paul Esser, Henk J. Baarslag, Lioe-Fee de Geus-Oei, C. J. Rodenburg, John M. H. de Klerk
KEYWORDS:
Breast Cancer, FDG-PET/CT, Staging, Dissemination, Guidelines
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Molecular Imaging,
Vol.4 No.3,
July
7,
2014
ABSTRACT: Objectives: In grade III-IV breast cancer, dissemination of disease
needs to be assessed. Until now this was done by conventional imaging (liver ultrasonography,
chest X-ray and bone scintigraphy), but evidence favoring the use of FDG-PET/CT
is accumulating. Methods: Patients with high-risk breast cancer, who had
received conventional imaging and FDG-PET/CT, were included. Patients were
staged and assigned a treatment after 1) conventional imaging and 2)
FDG-PET/CT, both by a multidisciplinary oncology team. Equivocal FDG-PET/CT
findings were histologically confirmed. Results: 16 patients were included
(mean age 59 years). TNM-stage changed in 5 patients (31%) after FDG-PET/CT. In
3 patients (19%) unknown distant metastases
were detected by FDG-PET/CT. An adjustment of treatment took place in 4
patients (25%). Conclusions: Our case series emphasizes the role of
FDG-PET/CT in the staging of high-risk breast carcinoma, especially in the
assessment of distant metastases. We suggest replacing conventional imaging
with FDG-PET/CT.