Valor de la tomografía de emisión de positrones con F18-fluordeoxiglucosa (PET-FDG) en pacientes con cáncer de mama* Use of positron emission tomography (pet) with F18-fluorodeoxyglucose in patients with breast cancer

SUMMARY Background: Positron emission tomography (PET) with F18- fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is very useful in the evaluation of breast cancer. Aim: To report the results of PET in patients with breast cancer. Patients and methods: Fifty-two whole body PET scans were performed in 44 patients with known or suspected breast carcinoma (100% female, mean age: 52 years). Of these, two patients were referred for diagnosis and staging, 15 for suspicion of relapse or metastases, 23 for re-staging and 9 for assessment of therapy. Results: A local relapse was found in two and distant metastases in six of the fifteen patients referred for suspicion of relapse. Secondary dissemination was found in 11 of the 23 patients referred for re-staging. Only one of the nine patients referred for assessment of therapy, had a negative study, indicating a complete response to treatment, the rest had a partial regression or even progression of the disease. Conclusions: FDG-PET, in this preliminary analysis of patients, is a very helpful tool in the evaluation and management of breast carcinoma.