PET imaging: implications for the future of therapy monitoring with PET/CT in oncology

Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2012 Oct;12(5):569-75. doi: 10.1016/j.coph.2012.07.016. Epub 2012 Aug 15.

Abstract

Among the methods based on molecular imaging, the measure of the tracer uptake variation between a baseline and follow-up scan with the SUV and [(18)F]FDG-PET/CT is a very powerful tool for assessing response to treatment in oncology. However, the development of new targeted therapeutics and tissue pharmacokinetic evaluation of existing ones are increasingly requiring therapy monitoring with alternative tracers and indicators. In parallel, the potential predictive and prognostic value of other image-derived parameters, such as tumour volume and textural features, relating to tumoral heterogeneity, has recently emerged from several works.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / trends
  • Prognosis
  • Radiation Oncology / methods*
  • Radiation Oncology / trends