Impact of PET/CT on radiation treatment in patients with esophageal cancer: A systematic review. (November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lu, Jing; Sun, Xiang-dong; Yang, Xi; Tang, Xin-yu; Qin, Qin; Zhu, Hong-cheng; Cheng, Hong-yan; Sun, Xin-chen
• Is Part Of: Critical reviews in oncology/hematology. Volume 107(2016)
• Page Start: 128
• Page End: 137
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Subjects: Esophageal cancer -- Positron emission tomography -- Radiotherapy -- Biological target; Oncology -- Periodicals; Hematology -- Periodicals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2016.08.015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1040-8428

Abstract

Abstract: Purpose: With the advances in radiotracers, positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is recognized as a useful adjunct to anatomic imaging with CT, MRI and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). The objective of this review was to comprehensively analyze the roles of PET/CT for the radiotherapy of esophageal cancer. Methods: In this review, we focused on issues concerning the application of PET/CT in TNM staging, target volume delineation and response to therapy, both for the primary tumor and regional lymph nodes. Furthermore, the following questions were addressed: how does PET/CT guide appropriate treatment protocols, how does it allow accurate tumor delineation and how does it guide prognosis and future treatment decisions. Results and conclusion: For the staging of esophageal cancer, PET/CT played a crucial role in exploring distant malignant lymph nodes and metastasis with high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. PET/CT using different radiotracer provided a serial of thresholding methods based on standardized uptake value (SUV) to assist in auto-contouring the gross tumor volume (GTV). The change in SUV may offer a potential paradigm of personalized treatment to definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT). In total, PET/CT has sought to further optimize radiotherapy treatment planning for patients with esophageal cancer.