[18F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in patients with suspected recurrence of breast cancer

• Published in: Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology 2003-03, Vol.129 (3), p.147-153
• Main Authors: KAMEL, Ehab M, WYSS, Matthias T, FEHR, Mathias K, VON SCHULTHESS, Gustav K, GOERRES, Gerhard W
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous - diagnostic imaging; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous - surgery; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Breast Neoplasms - surgery; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating - diagnostic imaging; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating - surgery; Carcinoma, Lobular - diagnostic imaging; Carcinoma, Lobular - surgery; Female; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Lung Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Lung Neoplasms - secondary; Lymphatic Metastasis - diagnosis; Mammary gland diseases; Medical diagnosis; Medical imaging; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mucin-1 - analysis; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - diagnostic imaging; Neoplasm Staging; Radiopharmaceuticals; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tomography; Tomography, Emission-Computed; Tumors
• ISSN: 0171-5216; 1432-1335
• DOI: 10.1007/s00432-003-0424-z

To evaluate the role of [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in patients presenting with a suspicion of breast cancer relapse after primary treatment. Sixty consecutive female patients with clinical (n=35) or radiological (n=25) suspicion of breast cancer recurrence were evaluated by FDG-PET. Positive PET findings were further evaluated by histological examination or clinical and radiological follow-up. In 25 patients, the serum tumor marker (CA 15-3) status was compared to the PET results. Disease relapse was proven in 40 patients. Additionally, in three patients a second cancer was diagnosed with (n=1), and without (n=2) concomitant disease relapse. PET missed local recurrence in three patients, and was false positive in another four. In patient-based analysis, the overall sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 89%, 84%, and 87%, and 100%, 97%, and 98% for locoregional recurrence and distant metastases, respectively. FDG-PET was more sensitive than the serum tumor marker CA 15-3 in detecting relapsed breast cancer. FDG-PET is a valuable tool in the follow-up of patients with breast cancer.