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PET-CT staging affects time to treatment in sarcoma
Linus Lee1, Alexander Kazmer1, Matthew W Colman1
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Section of Orthopedic Oncology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
Surgical Oncology
|March 2, 2022
Summary
Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scans in sarcoma care may slightly increase time to treatment initiation. However, this delay is likely clinically insignificant and PET-CT may improve staging accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) is increasingly used in sarcoma management.
- Understanding the impact of PET-CT on treatment timelines is crucial for optimizing patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of PET-CT acquisition on the time to treatment initiation for sarcoma patients.
- To determine if the observed time difference is clinically significant.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of bone and soft tissue sarcoma patient records.
- Recording dates of initial consultation and treatment start.
- Comparing time to treatment between patients who underwent PET-CT and those who did not.
Main Results:
- Patients undergoing PET-CT had a statistically significant longer median time to treatment (26 days) compared to those without (20 days).
- Patients receiving both PET-CT and plain chest CT also experienced increased time to treatment (27 days) versus plain CT alone (20 days).
- Statistical significance was observed for both comparisons (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- While PET-CT is associated with a statistically significant increase in time to treatment, the duration is likely clinically insignificant.
- PET-CT may provide benefits in more accurate staging for sarcoma patients.
- The findings suggest a trade-off between potential staging accuracy and minor treatment delays.
