Digital image fusion of CT and PET data sets - Clinical value in abdominal/pelvic malignancies

Purpose: We investigated the clinical relevance of digital image fusion of CT and 2-[F-18]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([F-18]FDG) positron emission tomog raphy (PET) studies in patients with suspected abdominal and/or pelvic meta stasis. Method: Nineteen patients with suspected residual/recurrent malignancies un derwent CT and [F-18]FDG PET studies of the abdomen and/or pelvis. The data sets of both modalities were fused on a digital workstation by automatic a daptation of the pixel size and the slice thickness. Different body positio ns were corrected by semiautomatic adaptation of the body axes. The fused i mages were reconstructed in sagittal, coronal, and axial planes. Results: Good spatial correlation between both modalities was achieved in a ll patients. Image fusion improved the spatial allocation of pathologically increased [F-18]FDG uptake in 7 of 35 lesions (20%). Conclusion: This work suggests that digital image fusion of CT and [F-18]FD G PET data sets improves the anatomical localization of foci with increased [F-18]FDG enhancement of the retroperitoneum and the abdominal/pelvic wall , respectively.