HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wahl, R. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Wahl, R. L.

Why Nearly All PET of Abdominal and Pelvic Cancers Will Be Performed as PET/CT

Division of Nuclear Medicine, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland

Clinical experience at Johns Hopkins and published literature regarding PET/CT applications in the abdomen and pelvis are reviewed, and the strengths and limitations of this evolving technology are summarized. More than 2,700 whole-body PET/CT scans including the abdomen and pelvis were performed for clinical indications by our nuclear medicine service from June 2001 through September 2003. Indications for these studies are reviewed, and our clinical impressions of diagnostic advantages and limitations of PET/CT are reported. Of the >2,700 whole-body PET/CT scans performed at our institution, >90% were for known or suspected cancers. Primary abdominopelvic indications were second in frequency to thoracic indications. In addition, a comprehensive literature search was performed, and key articles related to PET/CT in the abdomen and pelvis were identified, reviewed, and summarized. Under the search term "PET/CT," 142 articles were identified under the National Library of Medicine Pub Med database, and a number of general findings are summarized. Conclusion: PET/CT allows for the accurate localization of foci of radiotracer uptake and their separation from normal structures. In our experience, the method is quantitatively accurate, rapid, and easily implemented, including contrast studies, in clinical practice in a wide range of abdominopelvic indications. Although artifacts can occur from a variety of causes, close attention to protocol details and patient immobilization reduces their frequency. Where systematically studied, PET/CT improves diagnostic accuracy compared with PET alone. It is anticipated that PET/CT will increasingly become the routine and preferred procedure for abdominopelvic evaluations with PET imaging. It has already become the preferred method at our center.

Key Words: oncology • PET • PET/CT • abdominopelvic imaging • ¹⁸F-FDG • colorectal cancer

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A C Pfannenberg, P Aschoff, K Brechtel, M Muller, M Klein, R Bares, C D Claussen, and S M Eschmann Value of contrast-enhanced multiphase CT in combined PET/CT protocols for oncological imaging Br. J. Radiol., June 1, 2007; 80(954): 437 - 445. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. H. Fahey, M. R. Palmer, K. J. Strauss, R. E. Zimmerman, R. D. Badawi, and S. T. Treves Dosimetry and Adequacy of CT-based Attenuation Correction for Pediatric PET: Phantom Study Radiology, April 1, 2007; 243(1): 96 - 104. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Czernin and H. R. Schelbert Introduction J. Nucl. Med., January 1, 2007; 48(1_suppl): 2S - 3S. [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. MARTINIOVA, S. OHTA, P. GUION, D. SCHIMEL, E. W LAI, B. KLAUNBERG, E. JAGODA, and K. PACAK Anatomical and functional imaging of tumors in animal models: focus on pheochromocytoma. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., August 1, 2006; 1073: 392 - 404. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. L. Korn, A. M. Yost, C. C. May, E. R. Kovalsky, K. M. Orth, T. A. Layton, and D. Drumm Unexpected focal hypermetabolic activity in the breast: significance in patients undergoing 18F-FDG PET/CT. Am. J. Roentgenol., July 1, 2006; 187(1): 81 - 85. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. A. Blake, J. M. A. Slattery, M. K. Kalra, E. F. Halpern, A. J. Fischman, P. R. Mueller, and G. W. Boland Adrenal Lesions: Characterization with Fused PET/CT Image in Patients with Proved or Suspected Malignancy--Initial Experience Radiology, March 1, 2006; 238(3): 970 - 977. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Krishnasetty, A. J. Fischman, E. L. Halpern, and S. L. Aquino Comparison of Alignment of Computer-registered Data Sets: Combined PET/CT versus Independent PET and CT of the Thorax Radiology, November 1, 2005; 237(2): 635 - 639. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Subhas, P. V. Patel, H. K. Pannu, H. A. Jacene, E. K. Fishman, and R. L. Wahl Imaging of Pelvic Malignancies with In-Line FDG PET-CT: Case Examples and Common Pitfalls of FDG PET RadioGraphics, July 1, 2005; 25(4): 1031 - 1043. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]