J Korean Med Assoc.  2004 Sep;47(9):863-871. 10.5124/jkma.2004.47.9.863.

The Proper Use of PET/CT in Tumoring Imaging

• Yun M
• Lee JD

• KMID: 2183503
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2004.47.9.863

Abstract

PET using FDG has been proposed as a functional whole body imaging modality that images various types of malignancies with relatively high sensitivity and specificity in a reasonably short time. It depicts a lesion based on abnormal glucose metabolism whereas CT as a high-resolution anatomical imaging detects malignant process mostly based on altered anatomy. PET / CT combines the advantages of PET and CT, and has a great value in early detection of disease, accurate staging or restaging, early assessment of treatment response, decision on therapeutic plans, and rapid localization of recurrence. Exact anatomical localization of a lesion with increased FDG uptake by CT is considered to be the most important factor that improves the diagnostic accuracy of PET / CT. So far, limited studies have been reported using PET / CT in comparison with PET only and mainly proved additional value of PET / CT in malignant tumors in which conventional PET already had advantages over anatomical imaging. PET / CT appears to have a promising role in the field of radiotherapy planning. Another potential of PET / CT would be in the evaluation of tumors with low FDG uptake by way of CT or new PET tracers. PET / CT is in the stage of its early infancy and further studies remain to be performed to establish applications of PET / CT in clinical oncology. In this review, we will discuss the principle of PET, the background of the emergency of PET / CT, advantages, pitfalls, and debates of PET / CT along with clinical applications and future perspectives of thereof.

Keyword

PET/CT; CT; PET; FDG

MeSH Terms

Early Diagnosis
Emergencies
Glucose
Medical Oncology
Metabolism
Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography*
Radiotherapy
Recurrence
Sensitivity and Specificity
Whole Body Imaging
Glucose

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