[18 F]Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) is a useful imaging tool in the evolving management of patients with colorectal carcinoma. This technique is able to measure and visualize metabolic changes in cancer cells. This feature results in the ability to distinguish viable tumor from scar tissue, in the detection of tumor foci at an earlier stage than possible by conventional anatomic imaging and in the measurement of alterations in tumor metabolism, indicative of tumor response to therapy. Nowadays, FDG-PET plays a pivotal role in staging patients before surgical resection of recurrence and metastases, in the localization of recurrence in patients with an unexplained rise in serum carcinoembryonic antigen and in assessment of residual masses after treatment. In the presurgical evaluation, FDG-PET may be best used in conjunction with anatomic imaging in order to combine the benefits of both anatomical (CT) and functional (PET) information, which leads to significant improvements in preoperative liver staging and preoperative judgment on the feasibility of resection. Integration of FDG-PET into the management algorithm of these categories of patients alters and improves therapeutic management, reduces morbidity due to futile surgery, leads to substantial cost savings and probably also to a better patient outcome. FDG-PET also appears to have great potential in monitoring the success of local ablative therapies soon after intervention and in the prediction and evaluation of response to radiotherapy, systemic therapy, and combinations thereof. This review aims to outline the current and future role of FDG-PET in the field of colorectal cancer.

Author

Lioe-Fee de Geus-Oei, Theo J M Ruers, Cornelis J A Punt, Jan Willem Leer, Frans H M Corstens and Wim J G Oyen

Contact Details

Corresponding address:
L F de Geus-Oei, MD,
Department of Nuclear Medicine (internal postal code 444),
Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre,
PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands

Reference

ICIS Cancer Imaging Volume 6 Special Issue A
DOI: 10.1102/1470-7330.2006.9014

Date Posted

31 October 2006

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