title: Diagnostic value of FDG-PET/CT for lymph node metastasis of colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lymph node metastasis is an important prognostic factor in patients with colorectal cancer. We assessed the ability of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) to diagnose lymph node metastases in colorectal cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed the records of 473 patients who underwent preoperative FDG-PET/CT, followed by curative surgery for colorectal cancer. Lymph node metastases were assessed as proximal or distal, depending on their anatomical location. We analyzed the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of FDG-PET/CT and CT for detecting lymph node metastases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In detecting proximal lymph nodes, FDG-PET/CT had a sensitivity of 66 %, a specificity of 60 %, a PPV of 63 %, an NPV of 62 %, and an accuracy of 63 %; whereas CT had a sensitivity of 87 %, a specificity of 29 %, a PPV of 57 %, an NPV of 68 %, and an accuracy of 59 % (P = 0.245). FDG-PET/CT and CT also showed similar accuracy in detecting distal lymph nodes (87 vs. 88 %, P = 0.620).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative FDG-PET/CT and CT have comparable accuracy in detecting lymph node metastases of colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, and Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.forename: Jae Seung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hye Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyun Kwon
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Chang Sik
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jin Cheon
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18