Oncologic 18F-FDG PET/CT: referring physicians' point of view.
Oncologic (18)F-FDG PET/CT is rapidly gaining acceptance in clinical practice. However, the referring physician's attitude toward the usefulness of this diagnostic modality is unknown. This survey was undertaken to collect information regarding the current perspective of referring physicians on oncologic PET/CT.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective worldwide, Web-based survey of physicians who manage cancer patients. A total of 963 referring physicians completed a 20-question survey focused on their experience with oncologic (18)F-FDG PET/CT. Attention was directed toward their confidence about indications, their satisfaction with related educational resources, the quality of interaction with interpreting physicians, and practical problems encountered. The respondents included oncologists (38.5%, n = 371), hematologists (16.4%, n = 158), radiation oncologists (9.0%, n = 87), surgeons (30.3%, n = 292), and other physicians (5.7%, n = 55).


RESULTS
Only 25.2% of respondents considered the oncologic (18)F-FDG PET/CT indications to be well established and defined. Frequent uncertainty about the need for a PET scan was indicated by 62.3% of the respondents. High cost and overinterpretation of findings were the most commonly reported concerns (47.0% and 40.9%, respectively). The experience and skill level of the interpreting physician was considered very important by 96.8% of the surveyed physicians.


CONCLUSIONS
Referring physicians expressed considerable uncertainty about the appropriate use of oncologic PET/CT. Additional major concerns are procedure costs and quality of interpretation. The responses suggest a strong need for efforts to educate referring and interpreting physicians about the appropriate use of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in oncology.
Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, Ahmanson Translational Imaging Division, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA. dkarantanis@nuclmed.net
Dimitrios
D
Karantanis
Dimitrios
D
Kalkanis
Martin
M
Allen-Auerbach
Trond Velde
TV
Bogsrud
Rathan M
RM
Subramaniam
Adam
A
Danielson
Val J
VJ
Lowe
Johannes
J
Czernin
D003142:Communication; D003625:Data Collection; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D058028:Research Report; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18