Incidental finding of malignancy in patients preoperatively evaluated for aneurysm wall pathology using PET/CT.
Preoperative positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) was performed in 26 consecutive patients considered fit for aneurysm repair. Besides information on aneurysm wall pathology, PET/CT identified 6 patients with concomitant malignancy. As a result of this coincidental finding, the operation was postponed in 2 patients and cancelled in 1. Although previous studies have shown that PET/CT might affect patient selection based on aneurysm wall inflammation, our preliminary results show a big impact on patient management as a result of the sensitivity of PET/CT for detecting malignancy. Future larger studies are warranted to investigate the effect and cost effectiveness of routine PET/CT in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients.
Truijers
Maarten
M
Department of Surgery and Vascular Surgery, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. m.truijers@chir.umcn.nl
Pol
Jillis A
JA
Kurvers
Harrie
H
Bredie
Sebastian
S
Oyen
Wim J
WJ
Blankensteijn
Jan D
JD
D000368:Aged; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011300:Preoperative Care; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures