Application of whole-body FDG-PET for cancer screening in a cohort of hospital employees. Issue 44 (November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hu, Chin; Liu, Chun-Peng; Cheng, Jin-Shiung; Chiu, Yu-Li; Chan, Hung-Pin; Peng, Nan-Jing
• Other Names: Adamek. Mariusz section editor.
• Is Part Of: Medicine. Volume 95:Issue 44(2016)
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Subjects: cancer screening -- FDG -- nuclear medicine -- oncologic imaging -- PET/CT; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine -- Périodiques; Geneeskunde; Medicine; Periodicals; Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000005131
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-7974

Abstract

Abstract : Abstract: Whole-body positron emission tomography/computed tomography with the glucose analog 2-[ 18 F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG-PET/CT) has been extensively used to screen for underlying malignancies in asymptomatic individuals. We were able to survey a cohort of hospital employees using FDG-PET/CT and to report the results herein. A total of 116 hospital employees older than 55 years old were offered whole-body FDG-PET in our hospital. Ninety-seven employees (83.6%) completed the assessment from February 2014 to August 2014 in our PET center. The final confirmation of cancer was based on pathologic examination and follow-up after more than 1 year. Among the 97 participants, 92 were asymptomatic and 5 presented with previously diagnosed cancers. Six of the 92 asymptomatic participants (6.6%) with significant nodular lesions were referred for histological or cytological evaluation of the possibility of malignancy, and 1 case was considered clinically important and required surgical resection. The cancer discovery rate was 3.3% (3/92) with positive predictive value of 50% (3/6). In the 5 participants with previously identified cancers, no recurrence or metastasis was detected. The offer of whole-body FDG-PET for cancer screening was welcomed with enthusiasm by most of the hospital employees. PET/CT combines the merits of PET and CT and can be administered to and provide benefits to a select group of hospital employees.