Systematic Review of FDG-PET Prediction of Complete Pathological Response and Survival in Rectal Cancer

Abstract

Background: Advances in the management of rectal cancer have resulted in an increased application of multimodal therapy with the aim of tailoring therapy to individual patients. Complete pathological response (pCR) is associated with improved survival and may be potentially managed without radical surgical resection. Over the last decade, there has been increasing interest in the ability of functional imaging to predict complete response to treatment. The aim of this review was to assess the role of 18F-flurordeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in prediction of pCR and prognosis in resectable locally advanced rectal cancer. Methods: A search of the MEDLINE and Embase database..