title: (18) F-FDG PET/CT for initial staging in breast cancer patients - Is there a relevant impact on treatment planning compared to conventional staging modalities?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of whole-body (18) F-FDG PET/CT on initial staging of breast cancer in comparison to conventional staging modalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 102 breast cancer patients, 101 patients were eligible for evaluation. Preoperative whole-body staging with PET/CT was performed in patients with clinical stage ≥ T2 tumours or positive local lymph nodes (n = 91). Postoperative PET/CT was performed in patients without these criteria but positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (n = 10). All patients underwent PET/CT and a conventional staging algorithm, which included bone scan, chest X-ray and abdominal ultrasound. PET/CT findings were compared to conventional staging and the impact on therapeutic management was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PET/CT led to an upgrade of the N or M stage in overall 19 patients (19 %) and newly identified manifestation of breast cancer in two patients (2 %). PET/CT findings caused a change in treatment of 11 patients (11 %). This is within the range of recent studies, all applying conventional inclusion criteria based on the initial T and N status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PET/CT has a relevant impact on initial staging and treatment of breast cancer when compared to conventional modalities. Further studies should assess inclusion criteria beyond the conventional T and N status, e.g. tumour grading and receptor status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • PET/CT may be relevant in staging breast cancer patients at higher risk for metastases • PET/CT may modify the N and M stage in multiple patients • PET/CT may impact treatment planning in breast cancer patients.
authors: Institute of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany, Julia.Krammer@medma.uni-heidelberg.de.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Krammer
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Schnitzer
authors: C G
authors: CG
authors: Kaiser
authors: K A
authors: KA
authors: Buesing
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Sperk
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Brade
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Wasgindt
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Suetterlin
authors: S O
authors: SO
authors: Schoenberg
authors: E J
authors: EJ
authors: Sutton
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Wasser
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18