The Clinical Application Of FDG PET/CT For Detecting Matastasis To Individual Lymph Node Groups In Esophageal Cancer

Objective: To prospectively evaluate the clinical application of FDG PET/CT for detecting metastasis to individual lymph node groups in esophageal cancer.Material and Methods: From July, 2004 to December 2005, 29 men and 9 women with untreated primary esophageal cancer were examined with FDG PET/CT and enhanced multi-slice helical CT (MSCT) in our center 1 week before esophagectomy and lymph nodes dissection. All of the dissected lymph nodes were proven pathologically. FDG PET/CT scans were acquired by GE DiscoveryLS~4 PET/CT system and the data were transferred to the workstation (GE Xeleris) through reconstruction obtained CT , PET , fused PET/CT images. Similarly 3 other PET/CT doctors interpreted the images semi-quantitatively and visually, and made diagnostic and staging conclusions together. All of the CT scans were taken in 3 days before FDG PET/CT examinations. The MSCT scans were acquired by 16 slices CT (GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, Wis). All of the images were transferred to the workstation (Advantage Windows 4.1, GE Medical Systems), and reconstructed by MPVR (multi-planar volume reconstruction). 3 experienced radiologists performed interpretation of CT and obtained diagnostic and staging conclusions together. Lymph nodes were classified according to a modified version of the lymph node mapping system for esophageal cancer proposed by Korst. All the patients underwent surgery...