Advancing Oncology through Imaging: Evaluating FDG-PET's Role in Cancer Diagnosis and Staging

Abstract

Purpose: Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) represents a valuable functional molecular imaging technique. Through non-invasive means, 18F-FDG PET allows for the assessment of glucose metabolic activity in living biological systems. Its utility in oncology is well established, with applications in tumor diagnosis, staging, and treatment monitoring. The purpose of this study is to conduct a systematic review assessing the indicative value and effect on the clinical management of 18F-FDG PET/CT for various cancer types based on the current literature. Materials and Methods: An inclusive search of the PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct databases was performed to identify relevant studies published from 2022 to the present. Records were screened according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. A full-text review of the eligible studies was independently conducted by two reviewers. Results: Twenty-one primary research articles met the inclusion criteria and encompassed several cancer types. Evidence demonstrates superior detection, characterization, and staging compared with anatomical imaging alone. Advantages have been substantiated for head/neck, lung, and brain cancers, as well as lymphomas. The significant associations between 18F-FDG uptake and clinical features validated the molecular profiling capacity. Conclusion: 18F-FDG PET provides crucial metabolic tumor information, augmenting conventional approaches. Specific diagnostic values have been established for diverse oncological applications. While technical refinements are ongoing, 18F-FDG PET plays an expanding role in multimodal cancer algorithms according to guidelines. Continued investigation aims to further optimize these techniques and clarify their comparative effectiveness.