Diagnostic performance and prognostic role of FDG PET/CT performed at staging in anal cancer

Aim This mini-review aims to analyse the diagnostic performance and the prognostic role of FDG PET/CT performed at staging in anal cancer patients by the analysis of published literature. Materials and methods A comprehensive computer literature search of studies published on PubMed/Medline database in the last 10 years was carried out. Sensitivity and specificity of FDG PET/CT performed at staging respect to the final diagnosis of nodal status and/or distant metastases and the prognostic significance of staging metabolic parameters were analysed. Results Twenty articles were included, 10 (50%) on diagnostic performance and 10 (50%) on the prognostic role of FDG PET/CT, respectively. The sensitivity and the specificity of FDG PET/CT performed at staging for lymph node metastases ranged from 22 to 100% and from 53 to 100%, respectively. For distant metastases, sensitivity and specificity of FDG PET/CT performed at staging were of 100%. One or more PET parameters resulted to be significantly related to prognosis in 8/10 (80%) studies. Conclusions FDG PET/CT performed at staging has a good diagnostic performance in anal cancer patients. Some baseline metabolic parameters seem to have also a prognostic significance. Further research is required to validate these results.