Defining the role of PET-CT in staging early breast cancer.

Introduction: Currently, there is a lack of data on the role of combined positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) in the staging of early invasive primary breast cancer. We therefore evaluated the role of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG)-PET-CT in this patient population.

Methods: We prospectively recruited 70 consecutive patients (69 women, one man; mean age, 61.

¹⁸F-FDG PET and biomarkers for tumour angiogenesis in early breast cancer.

Purpose: Tumour angiogenesis is an independent and strong prognostic factor in early breast carcinoma. We performed this study to investigate the ability of (18)F-FDG to detect angiogenesis in early breast carcinoma using PET/CT.

Methods: Twenty consecutive patients with early (T1-T2) breast carcinoma were recruited prospectively for 18F-FDG PET/CT.