Positron emission tomography (PET): diagnostic usefulness and indications

Pichon Riviere A, Augustovski F, Cernadas C, Ferrante D, Regueiro A, Garcia Marti S
Record ID 32005000632
Spanish
Authors' objectives:

The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the diagnostic usefulness and indications of positron emission tomography (PET).

Authors' results and conclusions: Although its sensitivity and specificity was high in many studies, its clinical impact and the result of the decisions taken based on the information PET gives have not yet been clearly defined. Many of the applications of this technology can be analyzed dividing them into these categories: - PET not indicated: situations in which there is no evidence of improvement in the diagnostic-therapeutic effectiveness. - Potential indications: situations that could improve the diagnostic-therapeutic effectiveness - Research and/or experimental applications.
Authors' recommendations: Because of the different potential applications of this technology and its heterogeneity, its complete evaluation requires analysis of the scientific evidence focusing on each clinical situation that is to be evaluated. In general, we could say that PET would be indicated only for those clinical situations that: - its results can prevent an invasive diagnostic procedure and/or, - change medical decisions or, - decide what treatment to follow (e.g: surgical- non-surgical) or, - allow optimal anatomic location to perform an invasive diagnostic procedure later.
Authors' methods: Overview
Details
Project Status: Completed
URL for project: http://www.iecs.org.ar/
Year Published: 2003
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: Argentina
MeSH Terms
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
Contact
Organisation Name: Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy
Contact Address: Dr. Emilio Ravignani 2024, Buenos Aires - Argentina, C1414 CABA
Contact Name: info@iecs.org.ar
Contact Email: info@iecs.org.ar
Copyright: Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS)
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.