Modification of patient management when using FDG-PET in detection of recurrences of colorectal cancer: 18 month-experience

Full text: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of [F-18] - FDG - PET on managing patients with colorectal cancer. From January 2000 to July 2001, 164 examinations were performed by the team of hospital Tenon using a 3D dedicated PET System (C-PET, ADAC) for suspicion or recurrence of colorectal cancer (53 % of the cases), for search for other localization when one or more resectable(s) lesion(s) was (were) known (37 %) or for evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy (10 %). To evaluate the impact of PET imaging on patient management, a post PET questionnaire (corresponding to the French translation of the questionnaire presented by J. Meta et al.) was sent to the referring physician. 94 responses are currently available, corresponding to: no change (n = 42), change from no treatment to surgery (n =11), change from no treatment to medical treatment (n = 11), change from surgery to medical treatment (n - 9), change from medical treatment to no treatment (n = 5), change from medical treatment to surgery (n = 4), change from surgery to no treatment (n = 4), change in medical approach (n = 3), change in surgical approach (n = 2), change from no treatment to radiotherapy (n = 1), change from radiotherapy to medical treatment (n = 1), change from medical treatment to radiotherapy (n = 1). In summary, among 94 responses from referring physicians (corresponding to 57 % of the examinations), changes in patient management were reported for 52 of the 94 patients (55 %). This result confirms, in France, the major impact of FDG-PET on the management of recurrences of colorectal cancer, as reported by the referring physician, already demonstrated in California (62 % in the 60 patients of Meta et al). (author)