RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Better Assessment of Nodal Metastases by PET/CT Fusion Compared to Side-by-Side PET/CT in Oesophageal Cancer JF Anticancer Research JO Anticancer Res FD International Institute of Anticancer Research SP 1867 OP 1873 VO 28 IS 3B A1 LIESBETH M. SCHREURS A1 BARELD B. PULTRUM A1 KLAAS P. KOOPMANS A1 CHRISTIAN C. VERHOEF A1 PIETER L. JAGER A1 GOOITZEN M. VAN DAM A1 HENK GROEN A1 ERIK J. VAN DER JAGT A1 JOHN TH.M. PLUKKER YR 2008 UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/28/3B/1867.abstract AB Background: Recently, positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has been introduced in the staging of oesophageal cancer. The impact of PET/CT fusion in comparison with side-by-side PET/CT in these tumours, was analyzed. Patients and Methods: In 61 patients, 18-F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET and multidetector (md)-CT were performed within a two week interval. Software-fusion of md-CT and FDG-PET was correlated with side-by-side FDG-PET/CT reading by two independent investigators. The gold standard was the pathological outcome or clinical evidence of progression during the first year of follow-up. Results: In 18 patients (18/61; 30%), nodal staging improved with software-fusion. The number of nodal metastases increased in five patients and decreased in four patients, leading to up-staging in one patient (2%) and down-staging in three patients (5%). In nine cases (15%), certainty and localization of metastases improved. However, the number of distant metastases did not change and software-fusion did not have an influence on resectability. Conclusion: PET/CT fusion substantially improves detection and localization of nodal metastases and may have an impact on locoregional treatment options. Copyright© 2008 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved