title: PET-CT in the UK: current status and future directions.
abstract: Combined positron-emission tomography and computed tomography (PET-CT) has taken the oncological world by storm since being introduced into the clinical domain in the early 21(st) century and is firmly established in the management pathway of many different tumour types. Non-oncological applications of PET-CT represent a smaller but steadily growing area of interest. PET-CT continues to be the focus of a large number of research studies and keeping up-to-date with the literature is important but represents a challenge. Consequently guidelines recommending PET-CT usage need to be revised regularly to encompass new developments. The purpose of this article is twofold: first, it provides a detailed review of the evidence-base underpinning the major uses of PET-CT in clinical practice, which may be of value to a wide-range of individuals, including those directly involved with PET-CT and to a much larger group with limited exposure, but for whom a précis of the current state-of-play may help inform other radiology and multidisciplinary team (MDT) work; the second purpose is as a companion to revised guidelines on evidence-based indications for PET-CT in the UK (being published concurrently) providing a detailed commentary on new indications with a summary of emerging data supporting these additional clinical uses of the technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Level 1, Bexley Wing, St James's University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK. Electronic address: a.scarsbrook@nhs.net.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Scarsbrook
authors.affiliation: PET Imaging Centre, Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, King's Health Partners, St. Thomas' Hospital, London SE1 7EH, UK.
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Barrington
mesh_terms: D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D009683:Nuclear Medicine / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D000072078:Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011871:Radiology / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D006113:United Kingdom