Objectives: To determine the value of 18FDG PET/CT in initial staging diagnosis of breast cancer patients. Subjects and methods: 36 breast cancer patients were performed 18FDG PET/CT for initial staging diagnosis before the treatment. | Journal of military pharmaco-medicine n06-2018 THE VALUE OF 18FDG PET/CT FOR INITIAL STAGING DIAGNOSIS OF BREAST CANCER Nguyen Trong Son*; Nguyen Danh Thanh** SUMMARY Objectives: To determine the value of 18 FDG PET/CT in initial staging diagnosis of breast cancer patients. Subjects and methods: 36 breast cancer patients were performed 18 FDG PET/CT 18 for initial staging diagnosis before the treatment. Results: The FDG PET/CT changed in 6/36 patients () by T stage, in 11/36 patients () by N stage, detected metastasis in 8 18 patients. After FDG PET/CT, 13/36 patients () upstaged diagnosis which included 8/24 18 patients () at stage II and 5/8 patients () at stage III. The FDG PET/CT did not change diagnosis in patients with clinical stage I. Conclusion: 18 FDG PET/CT scan could effectively detect axillary and extra-axillary nodes, distant metastasis with great value in staging diagnosis in breast cancer patients. * Keywords: Breast cancer; 18 FDG-PET/CT; Staging diagnosis. INTRODUCTION Breast cancer is diagnosed based on clinical symptoms, histology and diagnostic imaging. Common diagnostic imaging tools included mammography, ultrasound, computed tomography scan (CT-scan) and lately magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Early diagnosis of breast cancer in examination periods and screening programs has brought great value in successful treatment. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography with flourine-1818 fluorodeoxyglucose ( FDG PET/CT) allowed early detection of pathological metabolism before changing anatomy and physiology, providing important information for accurate staging and thence, proposing appropriate treatment regimen. The value of 18FDG PET/CT had been demonstrated in accurate diagnosis of tumor location, staging progress of breast cancer, evaluating axillary and extra-axillary lymphatic nodes (upper and lower clavicular nodes, internal mammary nodes). 18FDG PET/CT also works as a significant tool in .
