Role of positron emission tomography in urological oncology

• Published in: BJU international Vol. 106; no. 11; pp. 1578 - 1593
• Main Authors: Rioja, Jorge, Rodríguez‐Fraile, Macarena, Lima‐Favaretto, Ricardo, Rincón‐Mayans, Anibal, Peñuelas‐Sánchez, Iván, Zudaire‐Bergera, Juan Javier, Parra, Raul O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2010; Wiley-Blackwell
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; bladder cancer; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; kidney cancer; Male genital diseases; Medical sciences; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; PET; Positron-Emission Tomography - methods; prostate cancer; Radiopharmaceuticals; testicular cancer; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods; Tumors; Tumors of the urinary system; Urinary tract. Prostate gland; Urogenital Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Radionuclide study; Kidney disease; Nephrology; Urinary system disease; Prostate disease; Urinary tract disease; Malignant tumor; Urinary tract; Bladder cancer; Urology; testicular cancer; Cancerology; Urinary system; Kidney cancer; Bladder disease; Male genital diseases; Prostate cancer; Positron emission tomography; Testicular diseases; Testicle cancer; PET; Cancer; Positron; Emission tomography
• ISSN: 1464-4096; 1464-410X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2010.09510.x

• Positron emission tomography (PET) is a diagnostic tool using radiotracers to show changes in metabolic activities in tissues. We analysed the role of PET and PET/computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis, staging, and follow‐up of urological tumours. • A critical, non‐structured review of the literature of the role of PET and PET/CT in urological oncology was conducted. • PET and PET/CT can play a role in the management of urological malignancies. For prostate cancer, the advances in radiotracers seems promising, with novel radiotracers yielding better diagnostic and staging results than 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose (18F‐FDG). In kidney cancer, PET and PET/CT allow a proper diagnosis before the pathological examination of the surgical specimen. For testis cancer, PET and PET/CT have been shown to be useful in the management of seminoma tumours. In bladder cancer, these scans allow a better initial diagnosis for invasive cancer, while detecting occult metastases. • PET and its combined modality PET/CT have shown their potential in the diagnosis of urological malignancies. However, further studies are needed to establish the role of PET in the management of these diseases. Future applications of PET may involve fusion techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging with PET.