Positron emission tomography in neoplasms of the digestive system

PET/CT has proven to be extremely useful in studying neoplasms of the colon and esophagus. It has been less promising for lesions of the stomach, pancreas and hepatobiliary tract. Colorectal cancer is the third most common non-cutaneous cancer representing 13% of all malignancies. The use of col...

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Main Authors: Mihailović Jasna, Freeman Leonard M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Institute of Oncology, Sremska Kamenica, Serbia 2012-01-01
Series:Archive of Oncology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0354-7310/2012/0354-73101204086M.pdf
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author Mihailović Jasna
Freeman Leonard M.
author_facet Mihailović Jasna
Freeman Leonard M.
author_sort Mihailović Jasna
collection DOAJ
description PET/CT has proven to be extremely useful in studying neoplasms of the colon and esophagus. It has been less promising for lesions of the stomach, pancreas and hepatobiliary tract. Colorectal cancer is the third most common non-cutaneous cancer representing 13% of all malignancies. The use of colonoscopy has significantly contributed to the earlier detection and higher cure rate. PET/CT is not a screening procedure. It is very good for staging, recurrence detection and monitoring therapeutic interventions. It is excellent for detecting distant metastases, e.g. liver lesions, but is less accurate for detecting nodal involvement. The CT portion of the study enhances certainty of lesion localization and characterization. Esophageal cancer is less common in the U.S. in that it represents 7% of G-I cancers, but only 1% of all cancers. The major problem is that often it is advanced to Stages III or IV before it comes to clinical recognition. A 5-year survival has been improved from 3% to 10% by the use of induction chemoradiotherapy. PET has proven useful in staging and determining resectability, monitoring response to therapy, radiotherapy treatment planning and distinguishing between postop scar and residual or recurrent disease on CT. Gastric cancer results have been more variable. The intestinal (tubular variety) shows better uptake than the non-intestinal (signet ring cell) variety because of the greater mucous content of the latter which is associated with more false negatives. FDG uptake in pancreatic cancer is also variable. Attempts at distinguishing carcinoma from pancreatitis have been limited. When lesions do show uptake, PET/CT has been helpful in monitoring therapeutic interventions. Hepatocellular cancer demonstrates significant FDG uptake in only 50-70% of cases. Cholangio carcinomas; particularly the peripheral variety, do show significant FDG uptake.
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spelling doaj.art-254853afd6524fbfb17a98539f8b00c92022-12-21T22:07:28ZengInstitute of Oncology, Sremska Kamenica, SerbiaArchive of Oncology0354-73101450-95202012-01-01203-4869310.2298/AOO1204086MPositron emission tomography in neoplasms of the digestive systemMihailović JasnaFreeman Leonard M.PET/CT has proven to be extremely useful in studying neoplasms of the colon and esophagus. It has been less promising for lesions of the stomach, pancreas and hepatobiliary tract. Colorectal cancer is the third most common non-cutaneous cancer representing 13% of all malignancies. The use of colonoscopy has significantly contributed to the earlier detection and higher cure rate. PET/CT is not a screening procedure. It is very good for staging, recurrence detection and monitoring therapeutic interventions. It is excellent for detecting distant metastases, e.g. liver lesions, but is less accurate for detecting nodal involvement. The CT portion of the study enhances certainty of lesion localization and characterization. Esophageal cancer is less common in the U.S. in that it represents 7% of G-I cancers, but only 1% of all cancers. The major problem is that often it is advanced to Stages III or IV before it comes to clinical recognition. A 5-year survival has been improved from 3% to 10% by the use of induction chemoradiotherapy. PET has proven useful in staging and determining resectability, monitoring response to therapy, radiotherapy treatment planning and distinguishing between postop scar and residual or recurrent disease on CT. Gastric cancer results have been more variable. The intestinal (tubular variety) shows better uptake than the non-intestinal (signet ring cell) variety because of the greater mucous content of the latter which is associated with more false negatives. FDG uptake in pancreatic cancer is also variable. Attempts at distinguishing carcinoma from pancreatitis have been limited. When lesions do show uptake, PET/CT has been helpful in monitoring therapeutic interventions. Hepatocellular cancer demonstrates significant FDG uptake in only 50-70% of cases. Cholangio carcinomas; particularly the peripheral variety, do show significant FDG uptake.http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0354-7310/2012/0354-73101204086M.pdfPositron-Emission Tomography and Computed TomographyGastrointestinal NeoplasmsColorectal NeoplasmsEsophageal NeoplasmsStomach NeoplasmsPancreatic NeoplasmsCarcinomaHepatocellular
spellingShingle Mihailović Jasna
Freeman Leonard M.
Positron emission tomography in neoplasms of the digestive system
Archive of Oncology
Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography
Gastrointestinal Neoplasms
Colorectal Neoplasms
Esophageal Neoplasms
Stomach Neoplasms
Pancreatic Neoplasms
Carcinoma
Hepatocellular
title Positron emission tomography in neoplasms of the digestive system
title_full Positron emission tomography in neoplasms of the digestive system
title_fullStr Positron emission tomography in neoplasms of the digestive system
title_full_unstemmed Positron emission tomography in neoplasms of the digestive system
title_short Positron emission tomography in neoplasms of the digestive system
title_sort positron emission tomography in neoplasms of the digestive system
topic Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography
Gastrointestinal Neoplasms
Colorectal Neoplasms
Esophageal Neoplasms
Stomach Neoplasms
Pancreatic Neoplasms
Carcinoma
Hepatocellular
url http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0354-7310/2012/0354-73101204086M.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT mihailovicjasna positronemissiontomographyinneoplasmsofthedigestivesystem
AT freemanleonardm positronemissiontomographyinneoplasmsofthedigestivesystem