The Critical Importance of Preoperative PET/CT in Detecting Metastasis
The Critical Importance of Preoperative PET/CT in Detecting Metastasis
The Most Dreaded Aspect of Cancer: Metastasis
Tumors can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors, when surgically removed completely, typically pose no further risk. Malignant tumors, however, are inherently aggressive, characterized by uncontrolled growth and distant metastasis. Even during initial treatment, cancer cells may have already spread to hidden locations, lying dormant until the immune system weakens, at which point they reemerge. Malignant tumors metastasize through bloodstream or lymphatic system, invading new areas and continuing to grow.
Why Preoperative PET/CT is Essential？
Preoperative PET/CT offers comprehensive whole-body evaluation, enabling precise assessment of the primary tumor and detection of metastases. Below is a case illustrating the consequences of skipping preoperative PET/CT:
Case Study
● Patient: 47-year-old female
● History: A mass in the mid-right humerus was misdiagnosed as a hemangioma. Resection was performed at an out-of-province hospital 1 month prior. Postoperative pathology suggested epithelioid sarcoma.
上图示右上臂内侧术后改变，术区可见FDG药物摄取不均匀增高，提示手术未切除干净，肿瘤有残留。
上图示右侧腋窝及右侧锁骨上区可见不等大小的淋巴结，FDG药物摄取增高，提示淋巴结转移。
Conclusion
Malignant tumors inherently metastasize. Preoperative PET/CT provides critical whole-body evaluation, ensuring accurate assessment of the primary tumor and detection of metastases, thereby guiding optimal treatment planning.
Advanced PET-CT Technology at Gansu Wuwei Academy of Medical Sciences
Our PET-CT Center is equipped with the GE Discovery 710 ultra-iterative PET-CT system, the most advanced 256-ring LBS crystal PET/128-slice spiral CT in China. As the fourth PET-CT in Gansu Province and the only one in prefecture-level hospitals, this GE technology sets a global benchmark with:
● 1.8mm spatial resolution for detecting microlesions.
● Reduced scan time and radiation exposure while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.
● On-site medical cyclotron producing high-purity radiopharmaceuticals (11C, 13N, 18F tracers), surpassing national standards.
Services:
Dual-tracer imaging (11C/18F) for comprehensive diagnostics.
Referral hotline: 0931-2122056
Dr. Li: +86 186 9316 1936
Ms. Yan: +86 176 9325 0603