The Role of Positron Emission Tomography Imaging in Primary Bone Tumours: A Narrative Review

Primary malignant bone tumours can pose significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to inter-tumour heterogeneity. While traditional imaging modalities such as radiography, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), and CT (computed tomography) remain essential for initial evaluation and staging, emerging evidence underscores the evolving role of positron emission tomography (PET), particularly PET/CT with Fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F] FDG), in the comprehensive management of bone sarcomas. This narrative review aims to critically summarise the available literature on PET imaging's utility in the management of primary bone tumours including osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and Ewing sarcoma. Despite limitations like inconsistencies in standard uptake value (SUV) cutoffs and reduced pulmonary resolution, PET/CT is valuable for staging, assessing response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, predicting histological outcomes, detecting recurrence, and guiding biopsy in metabolically active tumour sites. Further large-scale, prospective studies are warranted to standardise protocols and establish PET's definitive role in sarcoma management.