title: PET-CT accurately predicts the pre-operative characteristics of colorectal hepatic metastases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since 2002, Positron Emission Tomography (PET-CT) has been considered to be an essential pre-operative investigation in the management of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) in our institution. This study aimed to compare characteristics of hepatic metastases on PET-CT with post-operative histological findings and pathology of the primary tumour.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients with CRLM, who underwent surgical intervention from 2002 to 2008, were reviewed. PET-CT and pathology reports of hepatic resections and original colorectal resections were retrieved. Patient demographics, colorectal staging, number of metastases and their maximum diameter from both PET-CT and pathology reports were recorded. Values were expressed as mean (±SD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  141 patients were identified. The maximum diameter on PET-CT (4.2 ± 2.6) was similar to pathology (4.8 ± 3.6; p = 0.39), with significant correlation (r = 0.72, p < 0.0001). The number of lesions on PET-CT (1.6 ± 1.0) was similar to pathology (1.7 ± 1.3; p = 0.43) with significant correlation (r = 0.80, p < 0.0001). Mean SUV max was 9.22 (±4.39), with no correlation to lesion diameter (r = 0.25, p = 0.045), but significantly increased with decreasing differentiation (p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PET-CT scanning accurately detected the number of lesions and their maximum diameter, with radiological evidence of poorer differentiation. Further studies of non-surgical patients are required to assess its overall accuracy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Mater Hospital, Crumlin Road, Belfast BT14 6AB, United Kingdom. cjones82@hotmail.co.uk
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Badger
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: McKie
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Diamond
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Lynch
mesh_terms: D003082:Colectomy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D057234:Preoperative Period; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18