title: The role of 2-[f-18] fluoro 2-deoxy d-glucose positron emission tomography in the preoperative staging of gastric cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  FDG-PET can contribute significantly to the preoperative period of patients with planned curative resections or with isolated liver or lung metastasis. In this study, we analyze the importance and diagnostic value of FDG-PET in the preoperative evaluation of gastric cancers by correlating its value with computerized tomography (CT).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study was conducted. Abdominal and pelvic CTs were obtained for preoperative staging in each patient. Separate stagings were performed according to the findings of conventional methods and PET scans, and the results were compared with the operative and histological findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When the patients were evaluated according to the pathological stage, eight patients were Stage 1 (26.7%), five were Stage 2 (16.7%), eight were Stage 3 (26.7%), and nine were Stage 4 (30%). FDG-PET and CT down-staged the disease in eight (26.7%) and twelve (40%) patients, respectively. FDG-PET and CT up-staged the disease in two (6.7%) and five patients (16.7%), respectively. FDG-PET accurately staged the disease in eighteen patients (60%) (p= 0.182).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To develop highly sensitive radioactive tests that show invasive local lymph node and peritoneal metastases, more studies in the preoperative staging of gastric cancer are needed. FDG-PET indicates a high specificity in the staging of gastric cancer. In patients who are planned for curative surgery, FDG-PET provides better staging when used with CT.
authors.affiliation: Gumussuyu Military Hospital Department of General Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kazim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Duman
authors.affiliation: Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Department of General Surgery, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdurrahman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simsek
authors.affiliation: Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Department of General Surgery, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Semih
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gorgulu
authors.affiliation: Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Department of General Surgery, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gokhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yagci
authors.affiliation: Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Department of General Surgery, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peker
keywords: FDG-PET; Gastric cancer; Staging; Tomography