PET/CT Improves Assessment of Oesophageal Malignancy

Esophageal carcinoma is the eighth most common cancer globally. It occurs in the inside lining of the esophagus, and is diagnosed by biopsy using Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS). Treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or palliative care. Radiotherapy is often used for both curative and palliative treatment. The outcomes of treatment are often poor because of late diagnosis, and can result in a 5-year survival rate of only 13%‒18%.

Now a new study has shown that Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) could be used for planning radiotherapy, surgical resection, and other treatments. The researchers assessed 53 patients who had been treated with PET/CT, EUS, Esophago-gastroduodenoscopy (OGD), and surgical resection for esophageal cancer. Tumor length was assessed retrospectively. For EUS and OGD direct measurements were made.

Results of the study showed that estimating the histopathological length of the tumor using PET/CT was the most accurate method, when compared to direct measurements by EUS. Measurements using OGD were the least accurate method.

The research team was led by Dr. K. Rollins of the Esophago-Gastric Surgery department at Nottingham University Hospitals (Nottingham, United Kingdom). The results of the study will be published in the February 2015 issue of European Journal of Radiology.

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Nottingham University Hospitals