Accuracy of 18F-FDG PET/CT in monitoring therapeutic response and detection of loco-regional recurrence and metastatic deposits of colorectal cancer in comparison to CT

Background The study shows the role of PET/CT in monitoring response to therapy in colorectal cancer as well as detection of loco-regional recurrence and metastatic deposits hence guiding the clinician to the proper management strategy. Sixty patients (41male and 19 female) were included in our study. All patients are pathologically proven colorectal cancer. They had undergone 18F-FDG PET/CT for follow up post-therapeutic (operative, and/or chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy) follow up for metastatic or recurrent colorectal cancer during the period from September 2015 to August 2017. Results Our study demonstrated that FDG PET/CT is highly sensitive and specific in assessing local recurrence and distant metastasis in patient with pathologically proved colorectal cancer, with sensitivity 95.45%, specificity 97.3%, and accuracy 96.7% in detection of local recurrence; and sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 100% in detection of hepatic metastasis as well as in detection of nodal metastasis. Conclusion FDG PET/CT is an accurate modality in the treatment plan of cancer colon in monitoring therapeutic response as well as defining their local extent and distant metastatic disease thus provides valuable information that is very helpful in the clinical decision-making process.