Recommendations for the use of positron emission tomography in oncology

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a modem functional imaging technique with proven value in diagnosing, staging, detecting of recurrences and evaluation of response to cancer therapy. Its utility, sensitivity and specificity has increased by the addition of computed tomography (PET-CT) and the introduction of new radiotracers, apart from the commonly used F-18 fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG). This article, prepared according to evidence-based medicine rules by a multidisciplinary group of authors, presents the utility and clinical recommendations for PET in oncology. PET is useful for appropriate diagnosis and initial staging of head and neck, lung, pancreatic and esophageal cancers, lymphomas, advanced melanoma and tumors of unknown primary. PET is also indicated for detection of recurrence of colorectal, thyroid, ovarian, head and neck, and breast cancer, as well as lymphomas. PET could be used for monitoring of response to therapy in testicular and lung cancer, lymphomas and some types of sarcomas. (authors)