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The impact of PET scanning on management of paediatric oncology patients

  • Original Article
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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Limited information is available on the use of positron emission tomography (PET) in paediatric oncology. The aim of this study was to review the impact of PET on the management of paediatric patients scanned over a 10-year period.

Methods

One hundred and sixty-five consecutive oncology patients aged 11 months to 17 years were included. Two hundred and thirty-seven scans were performed. Diagnoses included lymphoma (60 patients), central nervous system (CNS) tumour (59), sarcoma (19), plexiform neurofibroma with suspected malignant change (13) and other tumours (14). A questionnaire was sent to the referring clinician to determine whether the PET scan had altered management and whether overall the PET scan was thought to be helpful.

Results

One hundred and eighty-nine (80%) questionnaires for 126 patients were returned (63 relating to lymphoma, 62 to CNS tumours, 30 to sarcoma, 16 to plexiform neurofibroma and 18 to other tumours). PET changed disease management in 46 (24%) cases and was helpful in 141 (75%) cases. PET findings were verified by histology, clinical follow-up or other investigations in 141 cases (75%). The returned questionnaires indicated that PET had led to a management change in 20 (32%) lymphoma cases, nine (15%) CNS tumours, four (13%) sarcomas, nine (56%) plexiform neurofibromas and four (22%) cases of other tumours. PET was thought to be helpful in 47 (75%) lymphoma cases, 48 (77%) CNS tumours, 24 (80%) sarcomas, 11 (69%) neurofibromas and 11 (61%) cases of other tumours. PET findings were verified in 44 (70%) lymphoma cases, 53 (85%) CNS tumours, 21 (70%) sarcomas, 12 (75%) neurofibromas and 11 (61%) other tumour cases.

Conclusion

PET imaging of children with cancer is accurate and practical. PET alters management and is deemed helpful (with or without management change) in a significant number of patients, and the results are comparable with the figures published for the adult oncology population.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all the staff at the Clinical PET Centre and recognise their skills in dealing with children. Special thanks are due to over 60 referring consultants who took time from their busy practices to fill out and return the questionnaires.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical PET Centre, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals, Lambeth Wing, Lower Ground Floor, Lambeth Palace Rd, SE1 7EH, London, UK

    E. A. Wegner, S. F. Barrington & M. J. O’Doherty

  2. Department of Paediatric Oncology, The Royal London Hospital, London, UK

    J. E. Kingston

  3. Department of Paediatric Neurology, Newcomen Centre, Guy’s Hospital, London, UK

    R. O. Robinson

  4. Department of Neurology, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals, London, UK

    R. E. Ferner

  5. Department of Paediatric Oncology, Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK

    M. Taj

  6. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, London, UK

    M. A. Smith

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  1. E. A. Wegner
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  2. S. F. Barrington
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  3. J. E. Kingston
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  4. R. O. Robinson
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  6. M. Taj
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  7. M. A. Smith
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  8. M. J. O’Doherty
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Correspondence to E. A. Wegner.

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Wegner, E.A., Barrington, S.F., Kingston, J.E. et al. The impact of PET scanning on management of paediatric oncology patients. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 32, 23–30 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-004-1645-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-004-1645-3

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