Role of Fludeoxyglucose in Breast Cancer Treatment Response

摘要

The role of fludeoxyglucose (FDG) PET in the management of patients with breast cancer (BC) is evolving. Combined PET and computed tomography (CT) systems (PET/CT) have replaced PET alone in most nuclear medicine departments. The CT portion of PET/CT provides the anatomic information useful for accurate interpretation of PET signal.Most patients with stage ll-lll BC are treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). This strategy allows more patients to undergo breast-conserving surgery and increases the chances of surgery in patients with primary inoperable disease; it also provides precious information on the efficacy of chemotherapy. Early assessment of the response to NAC should be helpful, as it might reduce the toxicity from inefficacious chemotherapy or allow a refinement of treatment. The number of studies has pointed out the efficacy of FDG PET/CT in early assessing the response to NAC. Nevertheless, PET/CT for assessment of the response to NAC has not yet entered routine clinical practice.