[18F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in patients with suspected recurrence of breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in patients presenting with a suspicion of breast cancer relapse after primary treatment.


METHODS
Sixty consecutive female patients with clinical (n=35) or radiological (n=25) suspicion of breast cancer recurrence were evaluated by FDG-PET. Positive PET findings were further evaluated by histological examination or clinical and radiological follow-up. In 25 patients, the serum tumor marker (CA 15-3) status was compared to the PET results.


RESULTS
Disease relapse was proven in 40 patients. Additionally, in three patients a second cancer was diagnosed with (n=1), and without (n=2) concomitant disease relapse. PET missed local recurrence in three patients, and was false positive in another four. In patient-based analysis, the overall sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 89%, 84%, and 87%, and 100%, 97%, and 98% for locoregional recurrence and distant metastases, respectively. FDG-PET was more sensitive than the serum tumor marker CA 15-3 in detecting relapsed breast cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
FDG-PET is a valuable tool in the follow-up of patients with breast cancer.
Kamel
Ehab M
EM
Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Medical Radiology, University Hospital of Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
Wyss
Matthias T
MT
Fehr
Mathias K
MK
von Schulthess
Gustav K
GK
Goerres
Gerhard W
GW
D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000032:analysis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
D018396:Mucin-1; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18