The role of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in initial staging of patients with locally advanced breast carcinoma with an emphasis on M staging

Hell J Nucl Med. 2011 May-Aug;14(2):135-9.

Abstract

Locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) is a distinct entity in breast carcinoma with high incidence of distant metastases (M). However, there is scarce data in the literature addressing the role of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET/CT) in LABC. This study was performed to assess the sensitivity of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in confirming known lymph nodal and M and in identifying new ones in LABC. We performed a retrospective analysis of data of 16 patients with LABC who underwent histopathology, for the diagnosis of LABC and clinical examination, chest X-rays, ultrasound of the abdomen and whole body bone scans. Findings for M obtained by all the above examinations were compared to the (18)F-FDG PET/CT findings that followed. Lymph nodal and distant metastases detected by all other examinations were detected by (18)F-FDG PET/CT in all patients, except subcentimetric metastases in 2 patients in the axilla that were detected in another examination later. Additionally, (18)F-FDG PET/CT identified unknown ipsilateral, supraclavicular, internal mammary metastases and upstaged disease in 3 patients and additional distant metastases were noted in 3/16 patients. In conclusion, our study suggests that more extra axillary lymph nodal and distant metastases can be identified by (18)F-FDG PET/CT as compared to a group of clinical, X-rays, ultrasound and bone scan examinations together.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Bone Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Bone Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Bone Neoplasms / secondary
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging / methods*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
  • Whole Body Imaging

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18