FDG-PET for the diagnosis and management of soft tissue sarcoma

Ioannidis JP, Lau J
Record ID 32002000434
English
Authors' objectives:

This report aims to perform an assessment on the use of 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in the diagnosis, grading, and management of soft tissue sarcoma (STS).

Authors' results and conclusions: Twenty studies were included in this systematic review. By qualitative interpretation, the sensitivity of FDG-PET ranged from 91 to 100% and the specificity varied between 26 to 88% in diagnosing primary lesions. When an SUV cut-off of >2.0 was used to evaluate primary lesions, the sensitivity ranged between 64 to 100% and the specificity ranged between 71 to 100%. Diagnostic performance was similar for primary and recurrent lesions. Limited data on comparisons with MRI and CT scan showed no differences between FDG-PET and these imaging modalities in diagnosing recurrent and metastatic disease.
Authors' recommendations: FDG-PET has very good discriminating ability in the evaluation of both primary and recurrent soft tissue lesions. FDG-PET may be helpful in tumor grading, but offers inadequate discrimination between low-grade tumors and benign lesions. There is insufficient data on the impact of FDG-PET on clinical outcomes and on the usefulness of FDG-PET in assessing the response to therapy.
Authors' methods: Systematic review
Details
Project Status: Completed
URL for project: http://www.cms.gov/coverage/8b3-iii.asp
Year Published: 2002
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: United States
MeSH Terms
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Sarcoma
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms
Contact
Organisation Name: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Contact Address: The Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) Program, Center for Evidence and Practice Improvement, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, USA. Tel: +1 301 427 1550
Contact Name: The EPC Program
Contact Email: epc@ahrq.hhs.gov
Copyright: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.