title: 18F-FDG PET/CT role in staging of gastric carcinomas: comparison with conventional contrast enhancement computed tomography.
abstract: The purpose of the report was to evaluate the role of fluorine-18 fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-FDG PET/CT) in staging gastric cancer comparing it with contrast enhancement computed tomography (CECT).This retrospective study included 45 patients who underwent performed whole body CECT and F-FDG PET/CT before any treatment. We calculated CECT and F-FDG PET/CT sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) for gastric, lymphnode, and distant localizations; furthermore, we compared the 2 techniques by McNemar test. The role of F-FDG PET/CT semiquantitative parameters in relation to histotype, grading, and site of gastric lesions were evaluated by ANOVA test.Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV and NPV of CECT, and F-FDG PET/CT for gastric lesion were, respectively, 92.11%, 57.14%, 86.66%, 92.11%, 57.14% and 81.58%, 85.71%, 82.22%, 96.88%, 46.15%. No differences were identified between the 2 techniques about sensitivity and specificity. No statistical differences were observed between PET parameters and histotype, grading, and site of gastric lesion. The results of CECT and F-FDG PET/CT about lymphnode involvement were 70.83%, 61.90%, 66.66%, 68%, 65% and 58.33%, 95.24%, 75.55%, 93.33%, 66.67%. The results of CECT and F-FDG PET/CT about distant metastases were 80%, 62.86%, 66.66%, 38.10%, 91.67% and 60%, 88.57%, 82.22%, 60%, 88.57%. FDG PET/CT specificity was significantly higher both for lymphnode and distant metastases.The F-FDG PET/CT is a useful tool for the evaluation of gastric carcinoma to detect primary lesion, lymphnode, and distant metastases using 1 single image whole-body technique. Integration of CECT with F-FDG PET/CT permits a more valid staging in these patients.
authors.affiliation: From the Nuclear Medicine Unit (CA, ANA, ADP, MF, CF, GR); Section of Diagnostic Imaging, D.I.M., University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy (MM).
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Altini
authors.forename: Artor
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Niccoli Asabella
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Palo
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fanelli
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moschetta
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rubini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013270:Stomach / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18