PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Scher, Bernhard
AU  - Seitz, Michael
AU  - Reiser, Martin
AU  - Hungerhuber, Edwin
AU  - Hahn, Klaus
AU  - Tiling, Reinhold
AU  - Herzog, Peter
AU  - Reiser, Maximilian
AU  - Schneede, Peter
AU  - Dresel, Stefan
TI  - <sup>18</sup>F-FDG PET/CT for Staging of Penile Cancer
DP  - 2005 Sep 01
TA  - Journal of Nuclear Medicine
PG  - 1460--1465
VI  - 46
IP  - 9
4099  - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/46/9/1460.short
4100  - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/46/9/1460.full
SO  - J Nucl Med2005 Sep 01; 46
AB  - The value of PET or PET/CT with 18F-FDG for the staging of penile cancer has yet to be determined. The objective of this study was to investigate the pattern of 18F-FDG uptake in the primary malignancy and its metastases and to determine the diagnostic value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the staging and restaging of penile cancer. Methods: Thirteen patients (mean ± SD age, 64 ± 14.0 y) with suspected penile cancer or suspected recurrent disease were examined with a Gemini PET/CT system (200 MBq of 18F-FDG). The reference standard was based on histopathologic findings obtained at biopsy or during surgery. Results: Both the primary tumor and regional lymph node metastases exhibited a pattern of 18F-FDG uptake typical for malignancy. Sensitivity in the detection of primary lesions was 75% (6/8), and specificity was 75% (3/4). On a per-patient basis, sensitivity in the detection of lymph node metastases was 80% (4/5), and specificity was 100% (8/8). On a nodal-group basis, PET/CT showed a sensitivity of 89% (8/9) in the detection of metastases in the superficial inguinal lymph node basins and a sensitivity of 100% (7/7) in the deep inguinal and obturator lymph node basins. The mean ± SD maximum standardized uptake value for the 8 primary lesions was 5.3 ± 3.7, and that for the 16 lymph node metastases was 4.6 ± 2.0. Conclusion: According to our results, the main indication for 18F-FDG PET in the primary staging or follow-up of penile cancer patients may be the prognostically crucial search for lymph node metastases. With the use of a PET/CT unit, the additional information provided by CT may be especially useful for planning surgery. Implementing 18F-FDG PET and PET/CT in future staging algorithms may lead to a more precise and stage-appropriate therapeutic strategy. Furthermore, invasive procedures with a high morbidity rate, such as general bilateral lymphadenectomy, may be avoided.