Present and future role of FDG-PET/CT imaging in the management of breast cancer

Abstract

Integrated positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) is a useful tool for acquisition of both glucose metabolic and anatomic imaging data using a single device in a single diagnostic session, and has opened a new field in clinical oncologic imaging. FDG-PET/CT has been used successfully for the diagnosis, initial staging, restaging, early treatment response assessment, evaluation of metastatic disease response, and prognostication of breast cancer as well as various malignant tumors. We herein review the current place and role of FDG-PET/CT in the management of breast cancer, focusing on its usefulness and limitations in the imaging of these patients.