Delma Yemisi Jarrett MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Martin Torriani MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

William E. Palmer MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hugue Alcide Ouellette MD, Abstract Co-Author: Perseptive clinical trial consultant

Miriam Antoinette Bredella MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To investigate the potential role of FDG-PET in the diagnosis of local recurrence and distant metastases of pediatric patients with musculoskeletal sarcomas.

The study group comprised 12 children (aged 2-17 years) with sarcoma (4 Ewing sarcoma, 1 osteogenic sarcoma, 3 rhabdomyosarcomas, 2 fibrosarcomas, 1 synovial cell sarcoma, and 1 epithelioid sarcoma) that were evaluated with FDG-PET for suspected tumor recurrence or distant metastases. The results of 26 FDG-PET, 15 PET/CT, 14 CT, 19 MRI, and 3 bone scans were compared with surgical pathology or clinical follow-up for at least 1 year.

FDG-PET detected distant metastases in two patients. There was no evidence of metastatic disease in the remaining ten patients on FDG-PET, which was confirmed with clinical follow-up and repeat imaging. FDG-PET was helpful in differentiating post-treatment changes from tumor recurrence. FDG-PET was true negative and excluded disease in four patients with abnormal MRI/CT. There were two false positive results on FDG-PET, which resulted in two biopsies which were negative.

FDG-PET may be useful and complementary to other imaging modalities for the detection of recurrent and metastatic disease in pediatric sarcomas. FDG-PET was helpful in differentiating post-treatment changes from tumor recurrence. Potential advantages and limitations of FDG-PET compared with conventional imaging modalities need to be further investigated in larger more homogeneous patient groups.

FDG-PET is helpful in differentiating post-treatment changes from tumor recurrence and detecting recurrent and metastatic disease, which influence therapy and prognosis.

Jarrett, D, Torriani, M, Palmer, W, Ouellette, H, Bredella, M, Value of 2-[F-18] 2-fluoro-deoxy-D-glucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG PET) in the Assessment of Pediatric Patients with Musculoskeletal Sarcomas.  Radiological Society of North America 2007 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2007 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2007/5014394.html