18-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography has limited sensitivity for colonic adenoma and early stage colon cancer.
BACKGROUND
18-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) is used clinically to detect recurrent colon cancer after surgical resection, but the sensitivity of PET for premalignant colon lesions and early stage colon cancer is not well defined.


METHODS
In a prospective study, 45 patients with a total of 58 colonic neoplasms, including premalignant polyps, premalignant, flat lesions, and early stage cancers, were evaluated by PET.


RESULTS
The sensitivity of PET for cancer was 62% (8/13). PET detected 100% (7/7) of cancers 2 cm or larger but only 17% (1/6) of cancers smaller than 2 cm. PET detected 23% (3/13) of flat, premalignant lesions; 70% (7/10) of protruded, premalignant lesions 3 cm or larger; 38% (3/8) of protruded, premalignant lesions between 2 and 2.9 cm; and 14% (2/14) of protruded, premalignant lesions between 1 and 1.9 cm. There was no false-positive PET reading.


CONCLUSIONS
PET has limited sensitivity for flat, premalignant lesions; protruded, premalignant lesions smaller than 3 cm; and colon cancers smaller than 2 cm.
Friedland
Shai
S
Department of Gastroenterology, Veterans; Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Avenue GI 111, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
Soetikno
Roy
R
Carlisle
Marie
M
Taur
Alan
A
Kaltenbach
Tonya
T
Segall
George
G
D000236:Adenoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000368:Aged; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18