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Present and future roles of FDG-PET/CT imaging in the management of malignant pleural mesothelioma

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Abstract

Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) integrated with 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (18F-FDG) has emerged as a powerful tool for combined metabolic and anatomic evaluations in clinical oncologic imaging. This review discusses the utility of 18F-FDG PET/CT as a tool to manage patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. We discuss different stages of patient management in malignant pleural mesothelioma, including diagnosis, initial staging, therapy planning, early treatment response assessment, re-staging, and prognosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Department of Radiology, Hyogo College of Medicine, 1-1 Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, 663-8501, Japan

    Kazuhiro Kitajima

  2. Department of Radiology, Hyogo College of Medicine, 1-1 Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, 663-8501, Japan

    Hiroshi Doi

  3. Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, 1-1 Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, 663-8501, Japan

    Kozo Kuribayashi

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  1. Kazuhiro Kitajima
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Correspondence to Kazuhiro Kitajima.

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Kitajima, K., Doi, H. & Kuribayashi, K. Present and future roles of FDG-PET/CT imaging in the management of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Jpn J Radiol 34, 537–547 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-016-0555-1

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