FDG-PET for esophageal cancer and colorectal cancer

This article outlines the significance of using FDG-PET for patients with esophageal cancer and colorectal cancer according to object, which includes staging, therapeutic monitoring, detection of lymphnodes or distant metastases, and early detection of recurrence. FDG-PET is useful for diagnosing lymphnode metastases that are difficult to be judge only by its size, or in cases with an elevated serum tumor marker in spite of negative findings by other imaging modalities. Conversely, as FDG-PETs sometime produce false positive and false negative findings, the final decision should be based not only on PET but also on the results of all other imaging modalities. Though reimbursement is available for colorectal cancer, it is not available for esophageal cancer. As FDG-PET is useful, it would be desirable to have reimbursement available for esophageal cancer as well.