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

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: jnumed.108.056010v1 50/2/231    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Related articles in JNM 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 Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Carkaci, S. Articles by Yang, W.-T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Carkaci, S. Articles by Yang, W.-T.

Retrospective Study of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in the Diagnosis of Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Preliminary Data

¹ Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas; ² Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas; ³ Morgan Welch IBC Research Program and Clinic, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas; ⁴ Department of Medical Physics, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas; and ⁵ Department of Pathology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas

Correspondence: For correspondence or reprints contact: Wei-Tse Yang, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030-4009. E-mail: wyang{at}di.mdacc.tmc.edu

Our objective was to retrospectively evaluate ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in the initial staging of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). Methods: The institutional review board waived informed consent and approved this study, which was compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The cases of 41 women with a mean age of 50 y (range, 25–71 y) and newly diagnosed IBC who underwent ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT at diagnosis were retrospectively reviewed. All PET/CT images were analyzed visually and semiquantitatively by 2 physicians. The maximum standardized uptake value in the primary breast, regional nodes (axillary, subpectoral, supraclavicular, internal mammary), and extranodal regions was documented. The accuracy of PET/CT image interpretation was assessed by histopathologic analysis, if available; concurrent or subsequent imaging findings (contrast-enhanced CT, contrast-enhanced MRI, sonography, or PET/CT follow-up); or clinical follow-up. Results: All patients presented with unilateral IBC. PET/CT showed hypermetabolic uptake in the skin in all patients, in the affected breast in 40 (98%), in the ipsilateral axillary nodes in 37 (90%), and in the ipsilateral subpectoral nodes in 18 (44%). Twenty patients (49%) were found to have distant metastases at staging, 7 (17%) of whom were not known to have metastases before undergoing PET/CT. Disease sites included bone, liver, contralateral axilla, lung, chest wall, pelvis, and the subpectoral, supraclavicular, internal mammary, mediastinal, and abdominal nodes. Conclusion: PET/CT should be considered in the initial staging of IBC, as the technique provided valuable information on locoregional and distant disease in this preliminary retrospective study.

Key Words: breast neoplasm • inflammatory breast cancer • ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT • mammography • sonography • CT regional adenopathy

COPYRIGHT © 2009 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine, Inc.

Related articles in JNM:

This Month in JNM

JNM 2009 50: 11A-12A. [Full Text]