Image analysis in patients with cancer studied with a combined PET and CT scanner.
OBJECTIVE
To compare combined whole-body PET and CT images of different cancers with PET images alone.


METHODS
Thirty-two patients with known or possible cancers were examined using a combined positron emission tomographic (PET) and computed tomographic (CT) scanner. All data were acquired using this same combined scanner. After an injection of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), noncontrast helical CT imaging of the neck, chest, abdomen, or pelvis was performed. The spiral CT was followed by a PET scan covering the same axial extent as the CT.


RESULTS
Coregistered PET-CT images identified and localized 55 lesions. In 10 patients (31%), areas with variable amounts of normal physiologic FDG uptake were distinguished from potential uptake of FDG in a nearby neoplastic lesion. Improved localization was achieved in 9 patients (for a total of 13 lesions, or 24%).


CONCLUSIONS
Combined PET-CT images appear more effective than PET images alone to localize precisely neoplastic lesions and to distinguish normal variants from juxtaposed neoplastic lesions.
Charron
M
M
University of Pittsburgh PET Facility, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pennsylvania, USA.
Beyer
T
T
Bohnen
N N
NN
Kinahan
P E
PE
Dachille
M
M
Jerin
J
J
Nutt
R
R
Meltzer
C C
CC
Villemagne
V
V
Townsend
D W
DW
D000368:Aged; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18