No abstract

In this study, PET/CT played a more important role than CE-CT scans alone and provided an impact on the management of breast cancer patients.

PET-based tumor volumes are strongly affected by the choice of threshold level. Quantitatively, GTVs derived from visual inspection of the region of high FDG uptake do not significantly differ from GTVref in this cohort of patients. The inclusion of alternative FDG-PET segmentation data, other than visual inspection, may reduce target volumes significantly.

In 3% of patients with one known malignancy and a suspicious bone lesion, the lesion was due to a previously unknown second malignancy; in 21% of patients, the lesion was benign. Bone biopsy is recommended in the management of patients with one known cancer and a suspicious bone lesion only if the presence of a second malignancy would alter clinical management.