Clin Positron Imaging 2000 Sep;3(5):197-205
The Potential of F-18-FDG PET in Breast Cancer. Detection of Primary Lesions,
Axillary Lymph Node Metastases, or Distant Metastases.
Hubner KF, Smith GT, Thie JA, Bell JL, Nelson HS, Hanna WT.
This retrospective study was done to evaluate the utility of
2-[F-18]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (F-18-FDG PET) in
identifying primary and recurrent breast cancer and lymph node metastases. One
hundred whole-body PET scans of 87 patients were reviewed. PET results obtained
with F-18-FDG and an ECAT/EXACT-921 or an ECAT-931 (Siemens/CTI) were based on
visual interpretation, or standardized uptake values (SUVs), related to
histology and also compared to computerized tomography (CT) and mammography
results. The sensitivity for PET in detecting primary (N = 35 studies) and
recurrent breast cancer (N = 65 studies) was 96% and 85% with a specificity of
91% and 73%. The sensitivity for lymph node metastases at the time of initial
diagnosis was 100% with a specificity of 100%. Quantitative SUV information did
not improve the accuracy of F-18-FDG PET in identifying primary breast cancers.
The results suggest that whole-body PET is useful in detecting recurrence or
metastases, may be useful in detecting lymph node metastases prior to initial
axillary lymph node dissection, but is less sensitive in excluding axillary
lymph nodes metastases later in the course of the disease.
