The Role of PET/CT in the Evaluation of Gastro-esophageal Neoplasm
Sarah Esmail Shamandi Attia;
Abstract
Gastric cancer is a leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Complete resection offers the only chance for permanent control, and accurate staging and evaluation of treatment response are crucial for appropriate management. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is increasingly used to complement anatomic imaging in cancer management.
Staging of gastric cancer typically makes use of a variety of imaging modalities, such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), endoscopic ultrasounds (EUS), and combined positron tomography (PET-CT), as well as laparoscopic staging and cytogenetic analysis of peritoneal fluid in appropriate patients.
Unlike conventional medical imaging, which is generally utilized for its depiction of anatomy and/or blood flow, nuclear medicine imaging has the unique ability to provide information regarding physiologic and metabolic activity. It is able to fulfill this task through the use of various radiotracers, which are radioactive compounds which are expected to localize to specific areas and become involved in different bodily processes. These radiotracers have very different and more complex functions than the contrast media used in CT or MRI for example, which merely travels through the vasculature and demonstrates areas of blood perfusion.
One of the more recent major advances in the field of nuclear medicine has been Positron Emission Tomography, known as PET. When combined with CT, PET is able to provide excellent physiologic information without sacrificing anatomic detail, which is presently the case for most other applications of nuclear medicine. This has enabled PET-CT to revolutionize oncologic imaging and thus the general management of many types of cancers. PET-CT also has other applications in the evaluation of certain cardiac and neurologic conditions as well as inflammatory processes.
The value of PET-CT has been of increasing interest among clinicians and data has supported its increased use in the detection, staging, and management of a variety of malignancies. During and after therapy, PET-CT may be useful in determining response to chemotherapy. It may be helpful for restaging and diagnosing recurrence at an earlier time or with greater certainty.
What all PET radiotracers have in common is their process of radioactive decay. The radiotracers, which are produced using cyclotrons, are all unstable in that they carry an excess of positive charge. In decaying to attain a stable state, the radiotracer molecules emit a positively charged electron, called a positron. After traveling a short distance from its origin (usually only a few mm) to expend excess energy, the positron comes into contact with its opposite particle, an electron, and
Staging of gastric cancer typically makes use of a variety of imaging modalities, such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), endoscopic ultrasounds (EUS), and combined positron tomography (PET-CT), as well as laparoscopic staging and cytogenetic analysis of peritoneal fluid in appropriate patients.
Unlike conventional medical imaging, which is generally utilized for its depiction of anatomy and/or blood flow, nuclear medicine imaging has the unique ability to provide information regarding physiologic and metabolic activity. It is able to fulfill this task through the use of various radiotracers, which are radioactive compounds which are expected to localize to specific areas and become involved in different bodily processes. These radiotracers have very different and more complex functions than the contrast media used in CT or MRI for example, which merely travels through the vasculature and demonstrates areas of blood perfusion.
One of the more recent major advances in the field of nuclear medicine has been Positron Emission Tomography, known as PET. When combined with CT, PET is able to provide excellent physiologic information without sacrificing anatomic detail, which is presently the case for most other applications of nuclear medicine. This has enabled PET-CT to revolutionize oncologic imaging and thus the general management of many types of cancers. PET-CT also has other applications in the evaluation of certain cardiac and neurologic conditions as well as inflammatory processes.
The value of PET-CT has been of increasing interest among clinicians and data has supported its increased use in the detection, staging, and management of a variety of malignancies. During and after therapy, PET-CT may be useful in determining response to chemotherapy. It may be helpful for restaging and diagnosing recurrence at an earlier time or with greater certainty.
What all PET radiotracers have in common is their process of radioactive decay. The radiotracers, which are produced using cyclotrons, are all unstable in that they carry an excess of positive charge. In decaying to attain a stable state, the radiotracer molecules emit a positively charged electron, called a positron. After traveling a short distance from its origin (usually only a few mm) to expend excess energy, the positron comes into contact with its opposite particle, an electron, and
Other data
| Title | The Role of PET/CT in the Evaluation of Gastro-esophageal Neoplasm | Other Titles | دور المسح السطحي بالانبعاث البوزيتروني والتصوير المقطعي في تقييم أورام المعدة والمرئ | Authors | Sarah Esmail Shamandi Attia | Issue Date | 2014 |
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