Synchronous primary neoplasms detected on 18F-FDG PET in staging of patients with esophageal cancer.

Abstract

UNLABELLED:

Because of improvements in diagnostic technology, the incidental detection of synchronous primary tumors during the preoperative work-up of patients with esophageal cancer has increased. The aim of this study was to determine the rate and clinical relevance of synchronous neoplasms seen on (18)F-FDG PET in staging of esophageal cancer.

METHODS:

From January 1996 to July 2004, 366 patients with biopsy-proven malignancy of the esophagus underwent (18)F-FDG PET for initial staging. This series of patients was retrospectively reviewed for the detection of synchronous primary neoplasms.

RESULTS:

Twenty synchronous primary neoplasms (5.5%) were identified in 366 patients. Eleven neoplasms were in the colorectum, 5 in the kidney, 2 in the thyroid gland, 1 in the lung, and 1 in the gingiva. One of the thyroid lesions and the lung lesion were erroneously interpreted as metastases, leading to incorrect upstaging of the esophageal tumor.

CONCLUSION:

(18)F-FDG PET detected unexpected synchronous primary neoplasms in 5.5% of patients with esophageal cancer. Sites of pathologic (18)F-FDG uptake should be confirmed by dedicated additional investigations before treatment, because synchronous neoplasms may mimic metastases.

• Authors: Henderik L van Westreenen, Marinke Westerterp, Pieter L Jager, Hendrik M van Dullemen, Gerrit W Sloof, Emile F I Comans, J Jan B van Lanschot, Theo Wiggers, John Th M Plukker
• Journal: Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine (J Nucl Med) Vol. 46 Issue 8 Pg. 1321-5 (Aug 2005) ISSN: 0161-5505 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16085589 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18

Topics

• Aged
• Esophageal Neoplasms (diagnostic imaging, epidemiology, pathology)
• Female
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
• Humans
• Incidence
• Incidental Findings
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Staging
• Neoplasms, Multiple Primary (diagnostic imaging, epidemiology)
• Netherlands (epidemiology)
• Positron-Emission Tomography (methods, statistics & numerical data)
• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Reproducibility of Results
• Retrospective Studies
• Sensitivity and Specificity