PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Lebriz Uslu
AU  - Jessica Donig
AU  - Michael Link
AU  - Jarrett Rosenberg
AU  - Andrew Quon
AU  - Heike E. Daldrup-Link
TI  - Value of <sup>18</sup>F-FDG PET and PET/CT for Evaluation of Pediatric Malignancies
AID  - 10.2967/jnumed.114.146290
DP  - 2015 Feb 01
TA  - Journal of Nuclear Medicine
PG  - 274--286
VI  - 56
IP  - 2
4099  - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/56/2/274.short
4100  - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/56/2/274.full
SO  - J Nucl Med2015 Feb 01; 56
AB  - Successful management of solid tumors in children requires imaging tests for accurate disease detection, characterization, and treatment monitoring. Technologic developments aim toward the creation of integrated imaging approaches that provide a comprehensive diagnosis with a single visit. These integrated diagnostic tests not only are convenient for young patients but also save direct and indirect health-care costs by streamlining procedures, minimizing hospitalizations, and minimizing lost school or work time for children and their parents. 18F-FDG PET/CT is a highly sensitive and specific imaging modality for whole-body evaluation of pediatric malignancies. However, recent concerns about ionizing radiation exposure have led to a search for alternative imaging methods, such as whole-body MR imaging and PET/MR. As we develop new approaches for tumor staging, it is important to understand current benchmarks. This review article will synthesize the current literature on 18F-FDG PET/CT for tumor staging in children, summarizing questions that have been solved and providing an outlook on unsolved avenues.