Objective: This study is to investigate the clinical role of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in detecting the recurrence and metastases of patients with breast cancer post treatment, compared to the conventional imaging technology, such as CT, MRI, and ultrasound.
Methods: The reports of FDG PET/CT whole body scans and conventional imaging technology, such as CT, MRI, and ultrasound, performed from Jan to Aug 2011 on 70 patients with breast cancer post treatment were retrospectively reviewed.The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of 2 groups in detecting the recurrence and metastases were calculated and compared.
Results: The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of FDG PET/CT were 84.3%, 95.6%, 64.0%, 82.7% and 88.9%.The conventional imaging technology was 70.0%, 68.9%, 72.0%, 81.6% and 56.3% respectively.FDG PET/CT had altered the medical management of 20% of patients and detected 3 second primary malignancies.
Conclusion: FDG PET/CT is superior to conventional imaging in detecting the recurrence and metastases of patients with breast cancer post therapy.