Open AccessAdditional Value of PET–CT in Staging of Clinical Stage IIB and III Breast Cancer
Author(s) -
Segaert Isabelle,
Mottaghy Felix,
Ceyssens Sarah,
De Wever Walter,
Stroobants Sigrid,
Van Ongeval Chantal,
Van Limbergen Eric,
Wildiers Hans,
Paridaens Robert,
Vergote Ignace,
Christiaens MarieRose,
Neven Patrick
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the breast journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.533
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1524-4741
pISSN - 1075-122X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1524-4741.2010.00987.x
Subject(s) - medicine , breast cancer , stage (stratigraphy) , radiology , pet ct , biopsy , cancer staging , bone scintigraphy , nuclear medicine , primary tumor , metastasis , cancer , positron emission tomography , paleontology , biology
To evaluate retrospectively the accuracy of integrated PET/CT, against PET, CT, or conventional staging in breast cancer. Seventy consecutive biopsy proven clinical stage IIB and III breast cancer patients were included. Descriptive statistics of integrated PET/CT for the primary tumor, nodal status and metastasis detection were compared to PET, CT with contrast, and conventional staging (biochemistry, chest X‐ray, liver ultrasound, and bone scintigraphy). Sensitivity of PET/CT for primary tumor and nodal status was 97.1% and 62.5%, respectively. Specificity and negative predictive value for nodal status were 100% and 66.6%, respectively. The values for conventional staging for nodal involvement were 100% and 85.7% with a sensitivity of 87.5%. PET/CT showed metastatic disease in seven women despite normal conventional staging. PET/CT is able to visualize most clinical stage IIB and III primary breast cancers. PET/CT is superior to conventional staging for detecting internal mammary chain nodes and metastatic disease, but not for axillary staging. Future studies will have to test whether therapy adjustment based on PET/CT has the potential to improve survival.