Abstract
2687
Introduction: Positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), offer highly sensitive and quantitative tools for the detection and localization of the biochemical and functional abnormalities associated with various diseases. The introduction of dual-modality PET/CT and SPECT/CT systems to the clinical environment in the late 1990s is regarded as a revolutionary advance in modern diagnostic imaging, bringing precise anatomical localization to conventional PET and SPECT imaging techniques and enhancing the quantitation capabilities of these modalities. The great success of PET/CT has also revived interest in the combination of PET and MR scanners, leading to commercially available clinical PET/MR systems.
Methods: We will review the recent improvements made in these hybrid molecular imaging systems, which have been dramatic in terms of both hardware and software over the past decade. We will focus primarily on the hybrid imaging systems that are currently used in clinical practice and the technologies applied for musculoskeletal tumors including skeletal metastasis.
Results: Brief review of malignant bone tumors, diffuse marrow infiltrating diseases and other benign bone diseases, which show various FDG uptake on PET/CT should be differentiated from malignant tumors. Clinical use of FDG PET/CT in primary malignant bone tumors including osteosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, and benign tumors including hemangioma, neurogenic tumor, and enchondroma with emphasis on various imaging findings on FDG PET/CT. Benign tumors and tumor-like conditions are often incidentally detected on FDG PET/CT in serial follow up studies of cancer patients, and should be differentiated from metastasis.
Conclusions: Hybrid imaging has been effectively utilized in oncologic indications. Since biopsy could not be replaced by images for definite diagnosis, hybrid imaging may be more efficient for staging based on nodular spread or metastases rather than the diagnosis of primary tumor, or it can be proficient for treatment response or post-operative assessment. This poster aims to describe mainly oncologic and non-tumorous conditions among the musculoskeletal applications of various hybrid imaging technologies.