The usefulness of 18-F-FDG PET/CT for detection of adult soft tissue sarcomas local recurrence and distant metastases

摘要

ObjectiveThe goal of this study was to highlight the usefulness of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18-F-FDG PET/CT) in soft tissue sarcoma (STS) follow-up to distinguish fibrosis from residual/recurring viable tumours and to detect distant metastases.MethodsTwenty-three patients with confirmed STS underwent PET/CT scans. Bone and visceral sarcomas were excluded. Detailed case-based and statistical analyses were performed. Final diagnosis was confirmed by clinical or radiological examination and/or biopsy.ResultsThe most common pathological diagnoses were synovial sarcomas (26.1%). PET/CT detected local disease recurrence in 8 cases. True positives for local disease were detected in 6 cases, and false negatives occurred in 2 cases (well-differentiated liposarcoma and low-grade synovial sarcoma). Distant disease was negative in 14/23 cases, and 2 cases were false negatives. Overall, PET/CT had 80% sensitivity, 87.5% specificity, 92.3% PPV, 70% NPV and 82.6% accuracy in STS treatment response follow-up.Conclusion18-F-FDG PET/CT is a useful imaging modality for STS follow-up and is effective in guiding biopsies. Locoregional and distant metastatic spread can be detected using PET/CT, with some limitations.