Role of Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Evaluation of Hepatic Focal Lesions

Abstract
Background: Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) has emerged as an increasingly im-portant functional diagnostic tool of various primary or metastatic cancers. PET/CT provides unique information with combined anatomical localization and the metabolic activity of the lesion. In contrast to morphological imaging techniques the 18F-flurodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET evaluates tumor via-bility based on glucose metabolism. By far the most extensive use of PET/CT imaging to date has been in the diagnosis, staging, follow-up and monitoring of malignancies.
Aim of Study: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of PET/CT in the detection and characterization of hepatic focal lesions.
Patients and Methods: Twenty patients were referred with hepatic focal lesions based on previous imaging modalities or histopathological examination who underwent combined PET/CT. Detailed retrograde lesion based and patient based analyses were performed for 84 detected hepatic lesions in 20 patients.
Results: PET/CT showed sensitivity of 92.42% and spe-cificity of 83.33% in detection of various hepatic focal lesions and higher sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 100% in detection of hepatic metastases from different primaries. Also, PET/CT showed sensitivity of 95.31% in detection of malignant lesions and sensitivity of 75% in detection of benign lesions. So, PET/CT was useful to differentiate malignant from benign lesions in the liver.
Conclusion: FDG PET/CT proved to be highly sensitive and specific in the assessment of hepatic focal lesions and was able to differentiate between malignant and benign hepatic focal lesions and their metabolic nature which significantly affect further management.