PET and PET/CT in pediatric oncology

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Medicine
• Pediatric Oncology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and PET/CT are increasingly crucial for noninvasive evaluation of pediatric malignant diseases.
• Dual-modality PET-CT systems enhance diagnostic capability by integrating anatomical and metabolic information.
• Increased accessibility to FDG-PET technology, including mobile units, supports wider clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the preparation of children for PET studies, including radiation dosimetry and its implications.
• To discuss the normal distribution of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in children, common variations, and artifacts.
• To explore the applications of FDG-PET in various pediatric malignancies and compare with other PET tracers.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical applications of PET and PET/CT in pediatric oncology.
• Discussion of patient preparation, radiation dosimetry, and normal FDG distribution in children.
• Analysis of FDG-PET utility in common and less-common pediatric tumors.

Main Results:

• Most pediatric tumors accumulate and retain FDG, enabling high-quality imaging of their distribution and pathophysiology.
• FDG-PET is effective in evaluating common pediatric cancers like brain neoplasms and lymphomas, as well as rarer tumors.
• PET/CT offers precise anatomical localization of metabolic information, improving diagnostic accuracy.

Conclusions:

• FDG-PET and PET/CT are emerging as essential diagnostic tools in pediatric oncology.
• Ongoing multicenter trials are expected to further elucidate the impact of FDG-PET in managing pediatric neoplastic diseases.
• These advanced imaging techniques provide valuable insights into tumor characteristics and aid in patient care.