PET/CT detects colorectal cancer recurrences

PET/CT scans can confirm a suspected colorectal cancer recurrence at an early stage, helping significantly in treatment, according to a study presented at the ARRS annual meeting.

Researchers at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester, U.K., found 71 patients with suspected co-lorectal recurrence. Suspicion was based on CT and MR in 51 cases. The rest had a suspected recurrence based on a carcinoembryonic antigen test with unremarkable conventional imaging.

All 71 patients had a PET/CT scan to confirm or negate recurrence. The modality accurately confirmed a recurrence in 40 of 71 patients.

“This shows that PET/CT has a definite role in the management of patients with recurrent colorectal cancer in addition to conventional imaging and the CEA test,” said Dr. Rohit Kochhar, lead author of the study.