Role of F-FDG PET/CT vs CT-scan in patients with pulmonary metastases previously operated on for colorectal liver metastases.
Victor Lopez-Lopez, Ricardo Robles, Roberto Brusadin, Asuncion López Conesa, Juan Torres, Domingo Perez Flores, Jose Luis Navarro, Pedro Jose Gil, Pascual Parrilla
Author Information
Roberto Brusadin: Virgen de la arrixaca clinic and university hospital, University of Murcia , IMIB, Murcia , Spain.
Juan Torres: Virgen de la arrixaca clinic and university hospital, University of Murcia , IMIB, Murcia , Spain.
Domingo Perez Flores: Virgen de la arrixaca clinic and university hospital, University of Murcia , IMIB, Murcia , Spain.
Jose Luis Navarro: Virgen de la arrixaca clinic and university hospital, University of Murcia , IMIB, Murcia , Spain.
OBJECTIVE: There is currently no conclusive scientific evidence available regarding the role of the F-FDG PET/CT for detecting pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer (PMCRC) in patients operated on for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). In the follow up of patients who underwent surgery for CRLM, we compare CT-scan and F-FDG PET/CT in patients with PMCRC. METHODS: We designed the study prospectively performing an F-FDG PET/CT on all patients operated on for CRLM where the CT-scan detected PMCRC during the follow up. We included patients who were operated on for PMCRC because the histological findings were taken as a control rather than biopsies. RESULTS: Of the 101 pulmonary nodules removed from 57 patients, the CT-scan identified a greater number (89 nodules) than the F-FDG PET/CT (75 nodules) (p < 0.001). Sensitivity was greater with the CT-scan (90 vs 76%, respectively) with a lower specificity (50 vs 75%, respectively) than with the F-FDG PET/CT. There were no differences between positive-predictive value and negative-predictive value. The F-FDG PET/CT detected more pulmonary nodules in four patients (one PMCRC in each of these patients) and more extrapulmonary disease in six patients (four mediastinal lymph nodes, one retroperitoneal lymph node and one liver metastases) that the CT-scan had not detected. CONCLUSION: Although CT-scans have a greater capacity to detect PMCRC, the F-FDG PET/CT could be useful in the detection of more pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease not identified by the CT-scan. Advances in knowledge: We tried to clarify the utility of F-FDG PET/CT in the management of this subpopulation of patients.