The role of PET scan in the preoperative management of oesophageal cancer.

摘要

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the (18)F-FDG-PET in the preoperative evaluation of patients with oesophageal or gastro-oesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer and to define its impact on therapeutic management. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 58 patients with biopsy proven oesophageal or GEJ cancer who underwent PET in addition to the conventional diagnostic work-up. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of CT and PET were calculated for detection of tumour and distant metastases. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of tumour detection were, respectively, 84, 100 and 84% for CT and 87, 100 and 87% for PET (p=ns). PET permitted detection of distant metastases, which were not seen on CT in seven patients. In two patients, a second primary tumour was detected on PET. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity of PET for loco regional lymph nodes detection is low. The major clinical impact is the detection of distant metastases.