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Published in: European Radiology 4/2013

01-04-2013 | Interventional

Added value of FDG-PET imaging in the diagnostic workup for yttrium-90 radioembolisation in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases

Authors: Charlotte E. N. M. Rosenbaum, M. A. A. J. van den Bosch, W. B. Veldhuis, J. E. Huijbregts, M. Koopman, M. G. E. H. Lam

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 4/2013

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Abstract

Objective

Yttrium-90 radioembolisation (Y90-RE) is recommended for unresectable, chemorefractory liver-dominant disease; however, the incidence of extrahepatic disease (EHD) is high. FDG-PET may have additional value to CT in demonstrating EHD. Our aim was to evaluate the added diagnostic value of FDG-PET to abdominal CT and study the influence of FDG-PET findings on treatment decisions.

Methods

All consecutive patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLM) referred for Y90-RE were included. Patients who underwent both CT and FDG-PET in the diagnostic workup were selected. Imaging reports were scrutinised for documented sites of EHD, and changes of management due to FDG-PET findings were determined.

Results

A total of 42 patients were included. Findings on CT and FDG-PET matched in 20 patients (no EHD, n = 15; identical EHD, n = 5). In 4 patients, lesions detected on CT were not FDG-avid, and in 18 patients, FDG-PET showed more lesions than CT (P < 0.05). In 7/42 patients (17 %) a change of management was made based on the additional FDG-PET findings, i.e. exclusion from Y90-RE treatment (n = 6) and change in treatment plan (whole liver rather than segmental treatment, n = 1).

Conclusions

In patients with CRCLM referred for Y90-RE, FDG-PET showed significantly more EHD and led to a considerable change of management.

Key Points

Yttrium-90 radioembolisation is a locoregional treatment for liver tumours
Detection of extrahepatic lesions, for which CT is widely used, is crucial
FDG-PET shows significantly more extrahepatic lesions compared to CT
FDG-PET findings led to a considerable change in treatment decisions
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Metadata
Title
Added value of FDG-PET imaging in the diagnostic workup for yttrium-90 radioembolisation in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases
Authors
Charlotte E. N. M. Rosenbaum
M. A. A. J. van den Bosch
W. B. Veldhuis
J. E. Huijbregts
M. Koopman
M. G. E. H. Lam
Publication date
01-04-2013
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
European Radiology / Issue 4/2013
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-012-2693-x

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