POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF METASTATIC RENAL-CELL CARCINOMA

Eleven patients with histopathologically proven advanced renal cell ca rcinoma were examined with positron emission tomography (PET) utilizin g L-(methyl)-C-11-methionine; two were also examined with F-18-2-fluor o-2-deoxy-D-glucose((18)FDG). A total number of 21 PET scans was perfo rmed, Twenty three lesions were evaluated in these 11 patients. Seven of the 11 patients had PET scans performed prior to and following ther apy with IL-2 and IFN. The results obtained on PET scans were correlat ed to computer tomography (CT) images, We observed that PET technique utilizing C-11-methionine and (18)FDG can be used for visualization an d in vivo characterization of renal cell carcinoma metastatses. Our re sults indicate that PET can also be used to obtain an early assessment of treatment response.