The impact of PET/CT on breast cancer diagnosis and management care

Objectives To determine the effectiveness of PET/CT scanning in the diagnosis and management care of patients with breast cancer at NorthShore University HealthSystem.

Methods All breast cancer patients were selected from NorthShore University HealthSystem that had two or more PET/CT scans between September 2008 and August 2009. The data was further expanded to include all of the selected patients PET/CT studies. Using the electronic medical records system (Epic), the patient’s plan of care was analyzed according to diagnosis and PET/CT findings. Pre-PET/CT management care was classified into five categories; observation, additional imaging, biopsy, surgery, and treatment. Post-PET/CT management care followed the same criteria. All patients whose plan of care was changed due to the PET/CT were further evaluated.

Results The average number of PET/CT scans per patient was five (168 scans/34 patients). Out of a total of one hundred sixty-eight PET/CT scans, seventy-eight (46.4%) effected change for management care. A further evaluation of the PET/CT diagnosis was done by making a comparison of the patient’s individual scans. Seventy-eight (46.4%) worsened, thirty-three (19.6%) improved, and fifty-seven (33.9%) showed no change. Overall, PET/CT effected a change for thirty-one out of thirty-four (91.2%) patients post-PET/CT management care during the course of their treatment for breast cancer.

Conclusions The data suggests that PET/CT scans are necessary in the diagnosis and management care for breast cancer. Initial and repeat PET/CT scans are beneficial in the continuing plan of care for breast cancer patients