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World J Clin Oncol. May 10, 2011; 2(5): 229-236
Published online May 10, 2011. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v2.i5.229
FDG-PET for hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancer: Advances and current limitations
Koji Murakami
Koji Murakami, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology , School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjyuku-ku, 160-8582 Tokyo, Japan
Author contributions: Murakami K solely contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Koji Murakami, Professor, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology , School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjyuku-ku, 160-8582 Tokyo, Japan. kjmuraka@z3.keio.jp
Telephone: +81-3-33531211-64446 Fax: +81-3-33531977
Received: January 24, 2011
Revised: March 8, 2011
Accepted: March 15, 2011
Published online: May 10, 2011
Abstract

In Japan, the use of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) for some malignant tumors came to be covered by the National Health Insurance in 2002. In 2010, the health insurance coverage was expanded to all types of malignant tumors. However, since PET examination requires a large amount of capital investment, facilities at which PET is available are still limited. On the other hand, PET equipment has rapidly been introduced in large hospitals and in the diagnostic imaging centers of major cities during the past few years. Although numerous middle-sized and small hospitals cannot afford to perform PET, physicians can refer their patients to facilities where PET is available. Therefore, it is essential for general physicians to gain accurate knowledge on PET, including the appropriate indications for PET, in order to select patients for referral to PET facilities. PET is not always a useful tool, especially for lesions of the pancreas and hepatobiliary system, which is the main topic of this review. The indications of PET for lesions in these organs vary depending on the purpose of the examination. In this article, we review the indications for PET (or PET/computed tomography [CT]) using FDG of the liver, biliary tract, and pancreas.

Keywords: Positron emission tomography; 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose; Pancreatic cancer