Value of PET/CT in the management of liver metastases, part 1

AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2011 Aug;197(2):W256-9. doi: 10.2214/AJR.10.6331.

Abstract

Objective: Metastasis is the most common (95%) of liver lesions. Early diagnosis and staging are the keys to treatment planning and prognosis. There is a consistent benefit to the use of PET/CT for detecting hepatic, local, and distant metastases from a variety of primary malignancies, which can contribute to staging and ultimately helps to establish the best course of treatment and to determine prognosis.

Conclusion: For colorectal cancer, FDG PET and FDG PET/CT are particularly effective for identification of additional hepatic and extrahepatic metastases, frequently upstaging the tumor stage and affecting management. In addition, PET/CT is very useful in local ablative and systemic therapy assessment and surveillance for liver metastases.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Liver Neoplasms / therapy
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Radiography
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18