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
Published in: European Radiology | Issue 4/2013
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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