Significant clinical impact and prognostic stratification provided by FDG-PET in the staging of oesophageal cancer

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical impact of FDG-PET in staging oesophageal cancer and whether this information improves prognostic stratification. METHODS: Impact was based on comparison of a prospectively recorded pre-PET plan with post-PET treatment in 68 consecutive patients undergoing primary staging. Survival was analysed using the Kaplan-Meier product limit method and the Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS: FDG-PET findings impacted on the management of 27/68 patients (40%): in 12 therapy was changed from curative to palliative and in three from palliative to curative, while in 12 other patients there was a change in the treatment modality or delivery but not in the tre..