FDG PET/CT-based Response Assessment in Malignancies

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Medical Imaging
• Nuclear Medicine

Background:

• Objective response assessment is vital for treatment efficacy and patient survival.
• Early and accurate assessment guides therapy effectiveness, clinical trial design, and response-adapted therapy.
• 2-[fluorine 18]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) provides functional and structural disease information.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the role of FDG PET/CT in imaging-based tumor response assessment across malignancies.
• To explain how FDG PET/CT differentiates responders from non-responders, even with residual masses.
• To discuss the development and revision of FDG PET/CT response assessment criteria for standardization and improved prediction.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing FDG PET/CT for functional and structural imaging in cancer patients.
• Applying established and evolving response assessment criteria based on FDG PET/CT findings.
• Differentiating treatment outcomes in lymphoma and solid malignancies using metabolic changes.

Main Results:

• FDG PET/CT can distinguish complete responders from non-responders in lymphoma.
• In solid tumors, metabolic changes on FDG PET/CT precede structural changes.
• Standardized FDG PET/CT criteria enhance the predictive performance of response assessment.

Conclusions:

• FDG PET/CT is a valuable tool for early and accurate tumor response assessment in various cancers.
• The technique aids in differentiating treatment outcomes and guiding clinical decisions.
• Ongoing refinement of FDG PET/CT criteria is essential for optimizing its predictive capabilities in oncology.