Role of positron emission tomography-contrast enhanced computed tomography in locally advanced gallbladder cancer

This study aims to define the role of flurodeoxyglucose (^18F -FDG) positron emission tomography-contrast enhanced computed tomography (PETCECT) scan in upstaging disease in patients with locally advanced gallbladder cancer (LAGBC).

An analysis of a prospectively maintained database of gallbladder cancer (GBC) patients was performed. Patients found to have locally advanced (T3 and/or T4 or N+) but non-metastatic disease on initial imaging, either a contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, underwent an additional PETCECT for staging and the results impacting treatment decision were recorded.

One hundred and three patients of LAGBC underwent CECT/MRI and PETCECT. 48/103 (46.6%) were found to be upstaged to stage IV after PETCECT. The most common metastatic site was non-regional retroperitoneal lymph nodes (12 patients, 11.7%) followed by satellite lesions in liver (11, 10.7%). Fourteen (13.6%) patients had equivocal findings on PET scan that required confirmation by tissue sampling out of which 10 (71.4%) were subsequently found to have metastatic disease. The only statistically significant factor predicting distant spread on PETCECT was the presence of loco-regional nodes on CT scan (odds ratio 6.15, P = .006).

PETCECT is a valuable tool to rule out metastatic disease in patients presenting with LAGBC.