Performance of integrated FDG-PET/contrast-enhanced CT in the staging and restaging of colorectal cancer: comparison with PET and enhanced CT

Eur J Radiol. 2010 Feb;73(2):324-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2008.10.030. Epub 2009 Feb 5.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of PET/CT as a one step examination in patients with colorectal cancer. Therefore we proved whether diagnostic PET/CT adds information over PET or contrast-enhanced CT alone for staging or restaging of patients with colorectal cancer.

Methods: Seventy-three patients (46 males and 27 females; age range: 50-81 years; mean age: 67 years) with known colorectal cancer underwent 18F-FDG-PET/CT for staging or restaging.

Results: Of the 73 patients 26 patients underwent PET/CT for staging and 47 for restaging. 266 metastases could be detected in 60 patients. Contrast-enhanced PET/CT had a lesion-based sensitivity of 100%, contrast-enhanced CT of 91% and PET of 85%. PET/CT identified 2 lesions as false positive. PET/CT could also reach a patient-based sensitivity of 100%, which was superior to contrast-enhanced CT and PET.

Conclusion: Our study clearly demonstrated the added value of contrast-enhanced PET/CT in staging and restaging patients with colorectal cancer over CT and PET alone.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Contrast Media
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / diagnosis*
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Systems Integration
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18