Colon Cancer Recurrence Detection with PET/CT Imaging
A recent article published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology detailed the use of combined positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT), (PET/CT) in the detection of disease recurrence and metastases in patients with colorectal cancer.
The Chinese research team that completed the research evaluated 68 patients with colorectal cancer who already completed surgery. 20 of the patients were female and the remaining 48 were male.
Patients underwent PET/CT imaging after the surgery to monitor for recurrence and metastasis; this was part of the preliminary work up to evaluate for the presence of metastases. This imaging modality confirmed the presence of disease in 82.4 percent of the patients. Among the patients with an elevated CEA, disease was confirmed in 91.7 percent; a total of 24 patients had elevated CEA.
The team noted that PET/CT was superior to both ultrasonography or CT alone in detecting disease with high rates of sensitivity and specificity. The rate of detection was 30.4 percent higher. In this study, findings obtained with PET/CT modified treatment planning in 16.2 percent of the cases.
October 16, 2007 Related topics: Imaging, Diagnostic, Surgery, Hematology & Oncology, Gastroenterology