To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: PET Scans Lead to Treatment Changes for Majority of Patients With Colorectal Cancer
URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/22A97A.htm
Doctor's Guide
September 3, 2008

RESTON, Va -- September 3, 2008 -- Positron emission tomography (PET) changed clinicians' disease management treatment plans for more than half of patients with suspected recurrent colorectal cancer, according to a study in the September issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

"Designed with an evidence-based approach, this study confirmed the important role PET plays in the decision-making process of patients with colorectal cancer and the impact of PET on both the management and outcome of disease," said coauthor Andrew M. Scott, MD, Centre for PET and the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Austin Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.

"These results are compelling and indicate that PET should be made more widely available to patients."

The study was conducted at 4 sites throughout Australia and included 191 patients who were divided into 2 groups. Group A consisted of symptomatic patients who had residual structural lesions suspicious for recurrent tumor after initial therapy, and group B comprised patients with pulmonary or hepatic metastases that were potentially operable.

These results were compared with findings from conventional imaging and participants were followed for 12 months.

Based on the extent and progression of disease revealed by the scans, treating physicians changed the planned management in more than 65% of patients in group A and nearly 50% in group B.

The researchers also found additional disease sites in 48% of patients in group A and 44% in group B, providing valuable prognostic information about patients that allowed their stratification into curative or palliative groups.

"PET was able to identify those patients who had potential for long-term, progression-free survival and even a potential cure," said Dr. Scott. "Just as important, it identified those patients with aggressive disease, enabling them to avoid unnecessary treatment, such as surgery."

In the United States, imaging results from PET scans have also changed clinicians' decisions in the treatment and care of more than 1 in 3 cancer patients, according to data collected by the US National Oncologic PET Registry (NOPR).

The registry, which includes data on over 23,000 patients in more than 1,200 PET facilities nationwide, has found that PET prompted changes in care decisions in 36.5% of patient cases.

"This data should encourage molecular imaging practitioners to engage with referring physicians early in the process of cancer treatment," added Dr. Scott. "It is clear that PET had a significant impact for these patients and could be an indispensable part of the standards of care for oncologists."


SOURCE: School of Nuclear Medicine

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet*
located at http://www.docguide.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Return to News Story Page

This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com
Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs.
All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc.
All rights reserved.