Breast Cancer and PET Imaging

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and among the most common indications of oncologic positron emission tomography (PET) studies. In this review article, updated anatomical, pathological, and clinical information about breast cancer were provided for Nuclear Medicine physicians to better understand breast cancer and interpret PET images and a review of the literature on the use of PET imaging in breast cancer was summarized.

Breast Cancer—How Can Imaging Help?

“…Although FDG PET-CT is recommended to be used for staging in advanced breast cancer and for the inflammatory type of neoplasia, studies show that it is not recommended for early-stage neoplasia [ 58 , 59 ]. The same review states that, for triple-negative breast cancer, this type of imaging technique has not been sufficiently studied to be recommended [ 58 ].…”

Biology of Cancer and PET Imaging: Pictorial Review

“…Table 1 shows the common and uncommon PET radiotracers for cancer imaging. 18 F-FDG is the most commonly used PET radiotracer to image cancer. Cancer cells mainly use glucose for their energy needs (aerobic glycolysis, Warburg effect), with accelerated glucose metabolism, increased rate of glucose transport and glycolysis, overexpression of glucose transporters, and increased level of hexokinase enzyme.…”

“…The tumor microenvironment also affects the glucose metabolism of cancer cells. Breast cancer, particularly invasive and inflammatory, is among the most common indications of 18 F-FDG PET imaging, mainly for staging (particularly stages 3 and 4), assessing response to treatments, and detecting recurrences (17,18). 18 F-FDG PET is indicated for initial staging of all cases of non-small cell lung cancer and initial staging of pure and combined small cell lung cancer (17).…”

“…Breast cancer, particularly invasive and inflammatory, is among the most common indications of 18 F-FDG PET imaging, mainly for staging (particularly stages 3 and 4), assessing response to treatments, and detecting recurrences (17,18). 18 F-FDG PET is indicated for initial staging of all cases of non-small cell lung cancer and initial staging of pure and combined small cell lung cancer (17). 18 F-FDG PET is used for differential diagnosis of solid solitary pulmonary nodules that are larger than 8 mm (19).…”

“…18 F-FDG PET is indicated for initial staging of all cases of non-small cell lung cancer and initial staging of pure and combined small cell lung cancer (17). 18 F-FDG PET is used for differential diagnosis of solid solitary pulmonary nodules that are larger than 8 mm (19). In multiple myeloma, 18 F-FDG PET helps to distinguish inactive from active disease, to detect extramedullary disease, to monitor the effect of treatments, and to determine progression from smouldering myeloma.…”