New research published in the January issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine shows that 18F-fludeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging offers significant prognostic stratification information at initial staging for patients with locally advanced breast cancer. When compared to conventional imaging, 18F-FDG PET/CT more accurately showed lesions in the chest, abdomen, and bones in a single session, changing management for more than 50% of the patients in the study.? Guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommend a physical examination, bilateral mammogram, sonography, or breast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to examine the breast, as well as chest diagnostic CT, abdominal or pelvic diagnostic CT, or MR imaging and bone scanning for evaluation of distant involvement.

 

 

[source: The Journal of Nuclear Medicine]