title: Diagnostic accuracy of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in the evaluation of the primary tumor in patients with cholangiocarcinoma: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To meta-analyze published data about the diagnostic accuracy of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) or PET/computed tomography (PET/CT) for primary tumor evaluation in patients with cholangiocarcinoma (CCa).
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive literature search of studies published through December 31, 2013, was performed. Pooled sensitivity and specificity were calculated on a per patient based analysis. Subgroup analyses considering the device used (PET versus PET/CT) and the localization of the primary tumor (intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IH-CCa), extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EH-CCa), and hilar cholangiocarcinoma (H-CCa)) were carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-three studies including 1232 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled sensitivity and specificity of (18)F-FDG-PET or PET/CT were 81% and 82%, respectively. Pooled sensitivity and specificity, respectively, were 80% and 89% for PET, 82% and 75% for PET/CT, 95% and 83% for IH-CCa, 84% and 95% for H-CCa, and 76% and 74% for EH-CCa.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  (18)F-FDG-PET and PET/CT were demonstrated to be accurate diagnostic imaging methods for primary tumor evaluation in patients with CCa. These tools have a better diagnostic accuracy in patients with IH-CCa than in patients with EH-CCa. Further studies are needed to evaluate the accuracy of (18)F-FDG-PET or PET/CT in patients with H-CCa.
authors: Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors: Salvatore
authors: S
authors: Annunziata
authors: Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors: Carmelo
authors: C
authors: Caldarella
authors: Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors: Daniele Antonio
authors: DA
authors: Pizzuto
authors: Postgraduate School of General Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Galiandro
authors: Nuclear Medicine Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Daneshgah Avenue, Mashhad 9179817317, Iran.
authors: Ramin
authors: R
authors: Sadeghi
authors: Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT Center, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Via Ospedale 12, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland.
authors: Luca
authors: L
authors: Giovanella
authors: Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT Center, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Via Ospedale 12, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland.
authors: Giorgio
authors: G
authors: Treglia
mesh_terms: D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000473:pathology; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18