title: FDG-PET/CT in the evaluation of anal carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Surgical staging and treatment of anal carcinoma has been replaced by noninvasive staging studies and combined modality therapy. In this study, we compare computed tomography (CT) and physical examination to [(18)F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) in the staging of carcinoma of the anal canal, with special emphasis on determination of spread to inguinal lymph nodes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between July 2003 and July 2005, 41 consecutive patients with biopsy-proved anal carcinoma underwent a complete staging evaluation including physical examination, CT, and 2-FDG-PET/CT. Patients ranged in age from 30 to 89 years. Nine men were HIV-positive. Treatment was with standard Nigro regimen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  [(18)F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) detected 91% of nonexcised primary tumors, whereas CT visualized 59%. FDG-PET/CT detected abnormal uptake in pelvic nodes of 5 patients with normal pelvic CT scans. FDG-PET/CT detected abnormal nodes in 20% of groins that were normal by CT, and in 23% without abnormality on physical examination. Furthermore, 17% of groins negative by both CT and physical examination showed abnormal uptake on FDG-PET/CT. HIV-positive patients had an increased frequency of PET-positive lymph nodes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  [(18)F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography detects the primary tumor more often than CT. FDG-PET/CT detects substantially more abnormal inguinal lymph nodes than are identified by standard clinical staging with CT and physical examination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Shane E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Cotter
authors.forename: Perry W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Grigsby
authors.forename: Barry A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.forename: Farrokh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dehdashti
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Malyapa
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Fleshman
authors.forename: Elisa H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Birnbaum
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Elliot
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abbey
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Ira J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Kodner
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Jennifer K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lowney
authors.forename: Matthew G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Mutch
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Dietz
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Myerson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007264:Inguinal Canal; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010388:Pelvis; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18