TABLE 5

Modification of Diagnosis and Therapeutic Orientation of Patients with Metachronous Liver Metastases Induced by CT and CT + PET

ManagementCT (%)CT + PET (%)
Absence of recurrence14.414.7
Unseen recurrence0.00.3
Curative resection13.613.2
Palliative treatment*61.367.1
Unnecessary exploratory surgery†6.90.8
Unnecessary palliative treatment‡3.93.9

  • ↵* Palliative treatment includes chemotherapy and symptomatic treatment.

  • ↵† Exploratory surgery performed although tumor was nonresectable.

  • ↵‡ Palliative treatment adopted although malignant tumor could be resected for cure in first intention.

  • PET = 18F-FDG PET.