PET imaging in oncology

The role of positron emission tomography (PET) during the past decade has e volved rapidly from a pure research tool to a methodology of enormous clini cal potential. Perhaps the most striking development is the use of PET in o ncology. PET imaging is approved in the United States for lung, lymphoma, c olon, and melanoma cancer imaging. Data are accumulating rapidly to attest the efficacy of Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) imaging in a wide vari ety of malignant tumors with sensitivities and specificities often in the h igh 90s. FDG uptake has been shown in tumors of the head and neck, ovary, b reast, musculoskeletal system, and neuroendocrine system as well. The major role of PET has emerged as a reliable method for evaluating and staging re current disease. But it also has an important role in differentiating benig n and malignant primary tumors. This has been shown particularly well in th e differential diagnosis of solitary lung nodules. Although FDG has emerged as the dominant radiopharmaceutical for PET imaging in oncology, numerous other compounds are being evaluated. It is likely that more specific and ef ficacious compounds will be introduced during the next decade. F-18, becaus e of its highly favorable physical characteristics, is likely to become the technetium of PET imaging. The next decade will witness an explosive growt h of PET technology in oncologic imaging. Copyright (C) 2000 by W.B. Saunde rs Company.