Reduced-dose [18F]-FDG PETCT scanning with current generation PETCT systems

Positron emission tomography (PET) has made a valuable contribution to the staging of malignancy for well over a decade. This time period has seen a rapid evolution from 2D PET to 3D PET, to the current 3D extended axial field of view PET systems with integral multi-slice CT. This evolution has been accompanied by significant improvements in PET image quality and, by virtue of the CT component, accurate lesion localisation.

Over the same time period the number of recognised and evidence-based indications for the use of [18F]-FDG PETCT in oncology has increased and provisions have been made to ensure national availability of this modality. As knowledge has progressed, [18F]-FDG PETCT is increasingly recognised as having a valuable role to play in non-oncological pathology including pyrexia of unknown origin, cardiac device infection, vascular graft infection, vasculitis, localisation of seizure focus prior to epilepsy surgery and in the differential diagnosis of dementia. The recommendation for national PETCT provision has steadily increased from 40,000 scans per annum in 2005, to between 57,000 and 61,500 per annum in 2009.

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