In-line (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computed tomography (PET/CT) in patients with carcinoma of the sinus/nasal area and orbit.
BACKGROUND
Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are the standard imaging techniques to evaluate patients with carcinoma in the sinus/nasal area and orbit. The use of positron emission tomography (PET) with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in such patients is as yet less well established.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the clinical impact of PET co-registered with CT (PET/CT).


METHODS
Evaluation of 21 consecutive patients.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of the whole body PET/CT studies was done. Images were assessed visually without knowing the results of the other imaging technique. Histology and clinical follow-up served to verify lesions. The clinical impact on therapy was assessed together with the physician in charge.


RESULTS
All patients underwent PET/CT and CT or MRI for staging (n=9 scans) and restaging (n=17 scans) without treatment between the examinations. PET/CT changed the treatment protocol in 2 patients at staging and in 7 at re-staging. Distant metastases were found in 5 and a secondary tumour in 1 patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Whole body PET/CT adds clinically important information to CT or MRI, thus, influencing treatment.
Wild
Damian
D
Division of Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistr. 100, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
Eyrich
Gerold K
GK
Ciernik
Ilja F
IF
Stoeckli
Sandro J
SJ
Schuknecht
Bernhard
B
Goerres
Gerhard W
GW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000175:diagnosis; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000175:diagnosis; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*; D051598:Whole Body Imaging
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18