Onofrio Antonio Catalano MD, Presenter: RSNA travel expenses covered by Siemens HealthCare

Bruce R. Rosen MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Research Consultant, Siemens AG

Carlo Iannace MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Emanuele Nicolai, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Angelo Luongo, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Marco Catalano, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Dushyant V. Sahani MD, Abstract Co-Author: Research Grant, General Electric Company

Leon Jonathan Menezes FRCR, Abstract Co-Author: Stockholder, General Electric Company Research Grant, Advanced Accelerator Applications SA Research Grant, Eli Lilly and Company

Mark Vangel PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Leonardo Pace, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Andrea Soricelli MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Marco Salvatore MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To compare the diagnostic performance of whole-body FDG-PET/MR with same day FDG-PET/CT in the detection of bony metastases in patients with breast cancer (BC).

144 consecutive patients with BC underwent whole-body FDG-PET/CT (Gemini TF, Philips) and same day FDG-PET/MR (Biograph mMR, Siemens). PET/CT and PET/MR studies were independently evaluated by two readers. Attenuation correction of PET/MR was performed with Dixon sequences. Accepted morphologic and nuclear medicine criteria were used to assess for bony metastases. Patients were excluded in the case of innumerable metastases or of benign lesions. In the case of numerous but still countable lesions, they all were counted. However only of the 5 most FDG-avid lesions had the SUV measured.  

PET/MR quality was deemed adequate in 142/144 patients. 5 were excluded due to innumerable metastases and 5 because of the benign nature. Bony metastases were found in 22/132 patients on PET/MR and in 20/132 patients on PET/CT. A total of 132 metastases were found in 22 patients. In 9/22 patients PET/MR and PET/CT detected the same number of lesions, in 13/22 PET/MR disclosed more metastases than PET/CT. PET/MR detected 132 metastases: 70/132 both on PET and MR, 55/132 on MR only, 7/132 on PET only. Average SUV 6.88, SD±5.09. PET/CT demonstrated 75 metastases: 44/75 both on PET and CT, 8/75 on CT only, 23/75 on PET only. Average SUV 5.84, SD±3.84.  

FDG-PET/MR demonstrated more numerous metastases per patient and metastases in more patients than same day FDG-PET/CT.

PET/MR might represent a very promising and accurate technique for detection of bony metastases in breast cancer patients.

Catalano, O, Rosen, B, Iannace, C, Nicolai, E, Luongo, A, Catalano, M, Sahani, D, Menezes, L, Vangel, M, Pace, L, Soricelli, A, Salvatore, M, Performance of Whole-body PET/MR and PET/CT in Evaluating Bony Metastases in Breast Cancer Patients.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14045646.html