Positron emission tomography/computed tomography in the staging of colon cancer

Purpose: Accurate preoperative staging of colon cancer is essential for providing the optimal treatment strategy and evaluating the expected prognosis. The aim of this study is to assess the value of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) over conventional studies in the staging of colon cancer. Methods: A total of 266 colon cancer patients diagnosed between January 2008 and December 2010 were assessed with both PET/CT and conventional studies. Discordance with PET/CT and conventional studies were evaluated, and changes in the management strategy were assessed for each stage. Discordant findings were verified by using intraoperative examination, pathology reports, and follow-up imaging studies. Results: Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and PET/CT showed similar accuracy in detecting lymph node metastasis in patients with clinical stage III (36.2% vs. 42%, P = 0.822) and stage IV (60.3% vs. 63.5%, P = 0.509) disease. PET/CT led to a change in management strategy for 1 of 40 patients (2.5%) with clinical stage I, 0 of 25 patients (0%) with stage II, 9 of 138 patients (6.5%) with stage III, and 8 of 63 patients (12.7%) with stage IV disease. Conclusion: PET/CT changed the management plan in 6.5% of patients with clinical stage III and 12.7% of patients with clinical stage IV colon cancer. Our findings suggest that PET/CT may be considered as a routine staging tool for clinical stage III and IV colon cancers.