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Positron emission tomography in urologic oncology
Oleg Shvarts1, Ken-ryu Han, Marc Seltzer
1Department of Urology, University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine, Los Angeles, Calif 90095, USA.
Cancer Control : Journal of the Moffitt Cancer Center
|September 14, 2002
Summary
Positron emission tomography (PET) shows promise in genitourinary oncology, particularly for testicular cancer staging. Further research is needed to define its role in prostate, bladder, and renal cancers.
Area of Science:
- Urologic Oncology
- Medical Imaging
- Nuclear Medicine
Background:
- Positron emission tomography (PET) is an evolving imaging technique explored for urologic oncology.
- FDG-PET scanning is highly accurate for diagnosing and staging various non-urologic cancers.
- This review assesses the utility of PET imaging in genitourinary malignancies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the role of PET imaging in genitourinary malignancies.
- To review PET imaging applications in prostate, bladder, renal, and testicular cancers.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focused on PET and urologic oncology.
- Evaluation of PET's role in prostate, bladder, renal, and testicular cancers.
Main Results:
- PET is more accurate than CT for staging and re-staging testicular cancer, ideal for assessing residual masses post-chemotherapy.
- In prostate, renal, and bladder cancers, PET's role is still evolving but shows high positive predictive value for problem-solving indeterminate findings.
- PET shows promise for advanced prostate cancer staging/re-staging and for renal cell carcinoma in classifying masses, assessing post-nephrectomy residuals, and monitoring therapy response.
Conclusions:
- PET imaging demonstrates significant potential in specific genitourinary cancer applications.
- Further research is required to establish PET's definitive role in genitourinary oncology imaging.