title: FDG-PET and PET/CT in Radiation Therapy Simulation and Management of Patients Who Have Primary and Recurrent Breast Cancer.
abstract: Radiation therapy is an important component in breast cancer management. Localization and delineation of gross tumor volumes is determined by anatomical imaging using CT and MRI. Recent developments allow the delivering of radiation doses more conformally to tumor tissue; thus precise target definition is needed to spare normal tissues and maximize coverage of tumor volumes in conformal radiation techniques. Defining disease extent, monitoring response, and predicting tumor behavior is vital to tailoring definitive radiotherapeutic regimens. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging using [F-18] fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) may play a significant role in the future. This article explores the increasing roles of FDG-PET and PET-CT in target definition and radiation treatment planning, and their possible application in the treatment of breast cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, UPMC Shadyside Hospital, 5150 Centre Avenue, #545, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
authors.forename: Dwight E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Heron
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, UPMC Shadyside Hospital, 5150 Centre Avenue, #545, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
authors.forename: Sushil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beriwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Barts and the London School of Medicine, Queen Mary, University of London, West Smithfield (QEII), London, EC1A 7BE, UK.
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Avril