FLUORINE-18-FLUORODEOXYGLUCOSE DUAL-HEAD GAMMA-CAMERA COINCIDENCE IMAGING OF RECURRENT COLORECTAL-CARCINOMA

We report our experience with coincidence detection imaging of F-18-fl uorodeoxyglucose (FDG) using a dual-head gamma camera. Scanning of the pelvis and abdomen of a patient with recurrent colorectal carcinoma s howed recurrent disease in the pelvic floor and the base of the urinar y bladder and metastatic disease in the retroperitoneal space of the p elvis. Although the tumor involving the bladder and pelvic floor was d etected by CT acid magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), metastatic spread to the retroperitoneal nodes on the left side was detected only by F- 18-FDG imaging. Based on the ultrasound, CT, MRI and cystoscopy, a loc al recurrence of cancer was presumed in our patient, An exploratory la parotomy was performed to resect the tumor in its entirety. At the tim e of surgery, the retroperitoneal metastasis in the pelvis was confirm ed. Had the findings of the coincidence detection imaging study been c onsidered, the patient would have been spared the surgical procedure.