PET/Computed Tomography in the Diagnosis and Staging of Gastric Cancers

Although there has been a reduction of the incidence and mortality of gastric cancer, it remains among the commonest causes of cancer-related death. Accurate staging and evaluation of treatment response are vital for management. PET is used to complement anatomic imaging in cancer management. PET/computed tomography (CT) has demonstrated its potential value for preoperative staging, evaluation of response to therapy, and detection of recurrence. Not all types of gastric cancers have a high affinity for fluorodeoxyglucose. PET/CT in the evaluation and staging of gastric cancer is not established, but studies indicate that there may be an evolving role for this imaging modality.