Value of 18F-FDG PET-CT in monitoring recurrence and metastasis of small intestinal adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of 18F-FDG PET-CT imaging on monitoring recurrence, metastasis and therapeutic decision-making in small intestinal adenocarcinoma patients after radical surgery. Methods Twenty-two patients were enrolled, who underwent surgical operation before received PET-CT scan. PET-CT findings were retrospectively observed to compare with the results of follow-up [postoperative pathology and (or) long-term clinical follow-up]. The roles of PET-CT on therapeutic decision-making were then investigated. Results Among 22 patients, 14 cases were finally diagnosed as recurrence and (or) metastasis, the other 8 cases as disease-free survival after long-term follow-up. According to PET-CT, 13 cases were diagnosed as recurrence and (or) metastasis (including 12 true-positive and 1 false-positive), and 9 cases were negative (including 2 false-negative). The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of PET-CT were 85.7 % (12/14), 87.5 % (7/8), 86.4 % (19/22), 92.3 % (12/13) and 77.8 % (7/9), respectively. The therapeutic decisions were changed in 10 patients (10/22, 45.5 % ) based on PET-CT results. Conclusion 18F-FDG PET-CT has an important clinical value on the detection of recurrence and (or) metastasis of small intestinal adenocarcinoma, which is an ideal method of monitoring. Key words: Small intestinal neoplasms; Positron-emission tomography; Fluorine-18 fluoro-deoxy-glucose; Recurrence; Neoplasm metastasis