Authors: Pietro Gasparoni D Rubello G Ferlin
Publish Date: 2014/04/02
Volume: 20, Issue: 9, Pages: 527-530
Abstract
We investigated 5 MTC patients 3 preoperatively for staging purpose and 2 after surgery during the followup because of the persistence of elevated serum tumoral markers FDG PET results were compared with conventional radiologic US CT scan MRI and scintigraphic noninvasive techniques 99mTcMIBI and 99mTcMDP scans In all the 3 patients preoperatively studied PET as well as the other imaging modalities detected the primitive tumor and the locoregional lymphnode metastases Furthermore in one case PET was the only technique that revealed an additional localization to the lungs One false negative result was recorded with PET as well as with the conventional imaging in a MTC patient with a MEN II syndrome and with some liver micrometastases 2 to 5 mm sized showed only at laparotomy PET was the only method capable of early visualizing a mediastinal relapse of the tumor in one of the 2 patients studied during the followup This patient was reoperated and serum calcitonin levels became undetectable On the basis of our preliminary results on MTC PET with FDG seems to be an accurate noninvasive technique for staging purpose before surgery and during the followup for visualizing tumoral spread in patients with increased serum tumoral markers
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