18F-FDG PET/CT in Synchronous Multiple Primary Esophageal Carcinomas / 中国医学影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Purpose Synchronous multiple primary esophageal carcinomas may be undetected by gastroscopy. This study aims to assess the role of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT in detecting synchronous multiple primary esophageal carcinomas. Materials and Methods Thirteen patients with synchronous multiple primary esophageal carcinoma who underwent gastroscopy and 18F-FDG PET/CT within two weeks before treatment were retrospectively analyzed. Results Gastroscopy and 18F-FDG PET/CT detected 22 and 29 esophageal carcinomatous foci respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (Z=-2.333, P<0.05). All the 29 esophageal carcinomatous foci showed high 18F-FDG uptake with a SUVmax ranging from 3.1 to 20.1 (mean, 10.7±5.7). 18F-FDG PET/CT also detected surrounding organ invasion in 3 patients, lymphatic metastasis in 10 patients and distant metastasis in 3 patients. Conclusion 18F-FDG PET/CT detects more esophageal carcinomatous foci compared with gastroscopy in patients with synchronous multiple primary esophageal carcinomas and also performs the staging diagnosis, which may help in improving clinical management and prognosis.