Functional imaging of pediatric musculoskeletal tumors

Abstract

Musculoskeletal malignancies are among the more common solid tumors of childhood. These include osteogenic sarcoma, or osteosarcoma, the Ewing family of tumors, and rhabdomyosarcoma. Imaging studies, including 18F-FDG PET and PET/CT, are used for initial staging, assessing the response to therapy, and surveillance for recurrent disease. In initial staging, identification of distant metastases is a common need with all three tumor types. In addition to prognostic implications, identification of distant disease can guide therapy.