F-18-FDG PET/CT for malignant small intestinal neoplasms

In this paper, F-18-FDG PET/CT data of 19 malignant SINs (small intestinal neoplasms) were consecutively reviewed. Nnine patients accepted PET/CT scan for preoperative diagnosis and staging, while ten patients presented follow-up after treatment and restaging. The results were correlated with abdomen enhanced CT and surgical pathological findings. Abdominal pain and weight loss were the most common findings. About 16% SINs located in the duodenum, 52% in the jejunum and 32% in the ileum. Lymphoma was the most frequent neoplasms. PET/CT revealed residual or recurrent malignant SINs in 5 patients who had negative or non-definite findings by abdomen CT and demonstrated extra-abdomen metastasis in 3 patients. Clinical decisions of treatment were changed for 6 patients after PET/CT examinations. The F-18-FDG PET/CT were better than CT in accuracy, negative predictive value and positive predictive value (89.5% vs 68.4%, 100% vs 66.7%, and 81.8% vs 69.2%, respectively). Whole body F-18-FDG PET/CT may be an effective molecular imaging method for staging and restaging of malignant SINs.