The role of PET/CT in staging and therapy response evaluation of colorectal cancers

The objective of the study is to evaluate the role of F-18 florodeoxi glucose positron emission tomography/ computarized tomography (FDG PET/CT) in staging, therapy monitoring and restaging of colorectal cancers. PET/CT scans of 61 newly diagnosed or surgically and/or medically treated colorectal cancer patients between the dates April 2013 and September 2014 were evaluated retrospectively. Data confirmation was made by histopathologic findings or by serial radiologic imaging methods and clinical follow-up. Overall sensitivity, spesivity, positive predictive value (PPD), negative predictive value (NPD) and accuracy of PET/CT for staging were %64,9, %92,9, %70,2, %97,5 and %95 respectively. Sensitivity, spesivity, PPD, NPD and accuracy of PET/CT for therapy response were %97,1, %88,7, %84,6, %97,9 and %91,9 respectively. Sensitivity, spesivity, PPD, NPD and accuracy of PET/CT for recurrence were %83,3, %85,1, %50, %96,6 and %84,8 respectively. PET/CT is a reliable method for the staging, evaluation of therapy response and detection of recurrence in colorectal carcinomas. It can detects recurrence in patients without any complaints. As a result early treatment changes reduces the mortality.