Role of Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Various Orbital Malignancies

Abstract

Orbital swelling comprises wide spectrum of pseudotumors, benign and malignant tumor. Malignant tumor may be primary or secondary tumor, and they constitute about 36% of orbital tumors in adult. Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) scan is extensively used in hematological malignancies and in solid tumors for staging, treatment response, and restaging. Recently, the use of FDG-PET/CT in orbital malignancies has gained importance. The aim of this pictorial essay is to illustrate few important orbital malignancies detected in F-18 FDG-PET/CT and discuss its role in assessing the primary lesion and associated systemic finding.

Can 18F-FDG PET/CT findings be used to predict orbital tumor histology?

“…18 F-FDG is a glucose analog radiolabeled with fluorine-18 (18F), reflecting the glucose consumption and therefore, whole-body 18F-FDG PET/CT studies can produce a whole-body metabolic map of the patient [5]. An increased glucose uptake is one of the major metabolic features found in cancer cells, making 18F-FDG the most used PET-tracer for oncologic purposes [5,14,24].…”