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PET/CT supports breast cancer diagnosis and treatment

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  • New trends in breast diagnostic imaging
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Abstract

The application of positron emission tomography with 18F fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG-PET) has remarkably improved the management of cancer patients. However, some caution is necessary in the interpretation of FDG-PET images. Because of its low spatial resolution, it is difficult to identify the anatomical location of radiotracer uptake and to distinguish between normal physiological accumulation and pathological uptake. A novel combined PET/CT system has been developed that improves the capacity to correctly localize and interpret FDG uptake. Although only a few studies have been conducted on the potential role of PET/CT in the management of breast cancer patients, the advantage of this modality compared with PET alone should be relevant for application in the field of breast cancer. In this review, we describe the clinical impact of PET/CT on breast cancer diagnosis compared with PET alone with respect to disease restaging, treatment monitoring, preoperative staging and primary diagnosis. In addition, the possible role of PET/CT with iodine contrast is noted for evaluation of intra-ductal spreading.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgical Oncology, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayshi, Mibu, Shimotsuga, Tochigi, 321-0293, Japan

    Mitsuhiro Hayashi, Yasushi Domeki, Shingo Hagiwara, Daisuke Katsumata & Masakatsu Sunagawa

  2. PET Center, Dokkyo Medical University Hospital, Tochigi, Japan

    Koji Murakami, Yasushi Domeki & Shingo Hagiwara

  3. Department of Pathology, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan

    Testsunari Oyama

Authors
  1. Mitsuhiro Hayashi
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  2. Koji Murakami
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  3. Testsunari Oyama
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  4. Yasushi Domeki
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  5. Shingo Hagiwara
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  6. Daisuke Katsumata
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  7. Masakatsu Sunagawa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mitsuhiro Hayashi.

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Hayashi, M., Murakami, K., Oyama, T. et al. PET/CT supports breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Breast Cancer 15, 224–230 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-008-0051-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-008-0051-2

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