The emerging role of [18F]FDG-PETCT in patients with breast cancer

Breast cancer staging is a complex process, mainly due to the heterogeneous phenotype of the tumour. In early breast cancer, assessed by primary tumour size and nodal status, contrast-enhanced CT thorax, abdomen and pelvis (CECT) for staging is not indicated unless there are clinical symptoms of metastatic disease because the risk of distant spread in an asymptomatic patient is low. Treatment decisions such as type of surgery to the breast and axilla, as well as oncological treatment (such as endocrine therapy, chemotherapy and the radiotherapy field) rely on diagnostic information from imaging, histological diagnosis and molecular profiling. It is therefore essential to provide accurate diagnostic information and identify metastatic disease early.

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