Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) for the Diagnosis of Recurrent Cancer: a Feasibility Study

Sometimes, cancer comes back after it has been successfully treated-a situation called recurrent cancer. When recurrent cancer is suspected, the standard approach to diagnosis is to perform a combination of imaging tests, such as x-rays, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and nuclear medicine scans. Sometimes, however, after performing these tests it still may not be clear whether or not the cancer has come back. Some studies have shown that a diagnostic imaging test called Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) may be helpful in the diagnosis of recurrent lung, breast, head and neck, ovarian or esophageal cancer or lymphoma. However, it is not clear if PET/CT can offer better results than standard approaches to diagnosis. This feasibility study is needed to determine how common it is for a diagnosis of recurrent cancer to be unclear even after standard diagnostic imaging tests have been completed. If the enrollment goal is reached (\~60 patients enrolled in 18 months), a larger clinical trial is being planned to determine if PET/CT is helpful in making the diagnosis of recurrent cancer in situations where standard imaging tests have not been helpful. It is also expected that the results of this feasibility study will help to define exactly which patients should be enrolled in this larger clinical trial of PET/CT.