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Positron Emission Tomography

Positron Emission Tomography

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a medical imaging technique involving radiopharmaceuticals — substances that emit short-lived radiation. Although the first PET scanner was introduced in 1961, it took 15 more years before radiopharmaceuticals were combined with the technique and revolutionized its potential.
One of the main requirements of a PET scan is a positron-emitting radioisotope, which is produced in a cyclotron and then attached to a substance used by the part of the body...

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Multi-modal Imaging of Angiogenesis in a Nude Rat Model of Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Volumetric Computed Tomography and Ultrasound

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PET/CT in breast cancer.

J F Bastidas¹, M Martínez de Bourio-Allona², A Roteta Unceta Barrenechea³

¹Servicio de Medicina Nuclear, Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain; Servicio de Medicina Nuclear, Axxis Hospital de Especialidades, Quito, Ecuador; Grupo de Trabajo de Oncología de la SEMNIM, Spain.

Revista Espanola De Medicina Nuclear E Imagen Molecular

|September 6, 2025

Summary

Advanced PET/CT imaging with novel radiotracers improves breast cancer diagnosis and personalized treatment. Molecular imaging offers superior accuracy for various subtypes and metastases, guiding clinical decisions.

Keywords:

Breast cancer CLI Cáncer de mama FAPI FDG FES HER2 ILC NST

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Published on: October 2, 2020

Area of Science:

Oncology
Nuclear Medicine
Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry

Background:

Breast cancer is a leading global neoplasm with diverse molecular subtypes impacting patient outcomes.
Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) is crucial for breast cancer management, offering insights into diagnosis, staging, and treatment response.
Standard radiotracers like [¹⁸F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose have limitations, particularly in specific subtypes such as invasive lobular carcinoma.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the evolving role of PET/CT and novel radiopharmaceuticals in breast cancer management.
To highlight advancements in molecular imaging for personalized diagnosis, staging, and therapy monitoring.
To discuss emerging radiotracers and their specific applications in breast cancer subtypes and metastasis detection.

Main Methods:

Review of current literature on PET/CT applications in breast cancer.
Discussion of established and novel radiopharmaceuticals, including [¹⁸F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose, 16α-[¹⁸F] fluoro-17β-estradiol, [⁶⁸Ga]-FAPI, [⁸⁹Zr]-trastuzumab, and [¹⁸F]-NaF.
Exploration of imaging targets such as HER2, fibroblast activation protein, PSMA, and GRPR.

Main Results:

16α-[¹⁸F] fluoro-17β-estradiol and [⁶⁸Ga]-FAPI show improved utility in invasive lobular carcinoma compared to [¹⁸F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose.
HER2-targeted agents like [⁸⁹Zr]-trastuzumab enable precise assessment of tumor heterogeneity.
[¹⁸F]-NaF is effective for detecting bone metastases, and novel targets like PSMA and GRPR are being identified.

Conclusions:

Molecular imaging with PET/CT is indispensable for personalizing breast cancer treatment strategies.
Advanced radiopharmaceuticals enhance diagnostic accuracy and optimize clinical decision-making across various breast cancer scenarios.
Ongoing research into new imaging targets promises further improvements in patient care and therapeutic efficacy.