Abdominal Masses Sampled at PET/CT-guided Percutaneous Biopsy: Initial Experience with Registration of Prior PET/CT Images

Abstract

PET/CT-guided abdominal biopsy with use of prior PET/CT images registered with intraprocedural CT scans is feasible and may be helpful when fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose-avid masses that are not seen sufficiently with nonenhanced CT are sampled at biopsy.

PET/CT-guided biopsy of liver lesions

“…PET/CT-guided biopsy of the liver is especially useful in lesions seen on PET scans, but not detected by other methods such as CT [20,21], and in masses with a heterogeneous pattern of glucose uptake seen on FDG PET imaging. In these latter cases, PET/CT allows the physician performing the biopsy to access the region with the highest FDG uptake, i.e., the region more likely to contain representative cancer cells [20,22]; in the same way, the technique is useful in lymph node chains where only some lymph nodes present FDG uptake.…”

“…In these latter cases, PET/CT allows the physician performing the biopsy to access the region with the highest FDG uptake, i.e., the region more likely to contain representative cancer cells [20,22]; in the same way, the technique is useful in lymph node chains where only some lymph nodes present FDG uptake.…”

“…Biopsies are contraindicated in the presence of platelet counts \100,000/ll, altered coagulation parameters, or any other medical contraindication to the procedure [20].…”

“…Finally, percutaneous biopsy could have been performed by fusing prior PET/CT scan images with conventional CT scan images obtained during the procedure [20]. Even though this technique is also relatively new, and experience is limited, preliminary studies, performing biopsies in several body sites, have shown it to be highly beneficial for achieving a definite diagnosis [48].…”

Real-time FDG PET Guidance during Biopsies and Radiofrequency Ablation Using Multimodality Fusion with Electromagnetic Navigation

“…Limited data exist concerning feasibility of overlaying a PET scan on an intraprocedural CT scan for biopsy and ablation. Tatli et al ( 16 ) assessed a rigid image registration algorithm to achieve bimodal fusion between a preacquired FDG PET scan and an intraprocedural CT scan for abdominal biopsies. Lei et al ( 17 ) retrospectively evaluated feasibility and accuracy of overlaying a PET scan on an intraprocedural CT scan for hepatic RF ablation by using nonrigid registration between PET and unenhanced CT.…”