Evaluation of F-18-FDG positron emission tomography in gastric and oesophageal carcinoma

The aim of this study was to evaluate F-18-fluoro-deoxyglucose (FDG) positr on emission tomography (PET) in gastric and oesophageal carcinoma. 16 patie nts with biopsy proven oesophageal or gastric carcinoma had PET scans. Four patients had advanced disease and received pallia tive treatment. The rema ining 12 patients were randomized to immediate surgery or neoadjuvant chemo therapy. Three patients had repeat PET scans following chemotherapy. PET de tected the primary tumour in all cases including stage T1 lesions. Involved locoregional nodes (N1, N2) were not identified separately from the primar y tumour. Semiquantitative analysis was performed in the form of tumour to liver activity ratios (TLR). In general, the TLR Values were higher in the higher T stages, although there was only one case each of T1 and T2 lesions . PET scanning using F-18-FDG is a sensitive method for detecting primary o esophageal and gastric cancers but is limited in locoregional staging.