PET/CT is the ideal combination between nuclear medicine equipment and single photon emission computed tomography in the recent years. With the rapid development of computer science and biology, PET/CT is applying widely on the study of oncology.
1.Tumor screening: According to statistics, in People’s Liberation Army General Hospital, subclinical cases of malignant cancer reach 2% among one thousand asymptomatic population who get heath exam and their CT and MR exam shows normal findings.
2.Qualitative diagnosis of tumors: Tumor cell has high uptake rate for (18)F-FDG, which can reflect division and proliferation of malignant tumors or neovascularization of tumors.
3.Cancer staging: Staging is a way of describing where a cancer is located, if/or where it has spread, and whether it is affecting the functions of other organs in the body. Doctors often use diagnostic tests to determine a cancer’s stage, so staging may not be complete until all of the tests are finished. It will help to achieve tumor individual therapy.
4.Tumor biological characteristics. The concentration degree of tumor cell for tracer directly reflect tumor malignancy.
5.Unknown primary tumor testing: It is very common to first detect metastatic tumors with unknown primary site in clinic. PET/CT can discover the primary tumor through a whole body scan and also provide the scope and biological characteristics of the tumor.
6.Assistance for tumor treatment planning. During the process of tumor radiotherapy, PET/CT can hint the distribution of bioactive tumors to facilitate making of the radiation treatment plan.
7.Monitoring and prediction of tumor treatment: PET/CT is used in early detection of the sensitivity of tumor cell for radiotherapy or a certain kind of chemo-therapeutant, which can facilitate the modification of individualized therapeutic scheme according to treatment effect.
8. Monitoring & Restaging of tumor recurrence
9. New technology & drug research on tumor treatment
