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Positron Emission Tomography pp 317–333Cite as

PET and PET/CT for Unknown Primary Tumors

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 727))

Abstract

Carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) is defined as histologically proven metastatic disease that, after a complete diagnostic work-up, yields no primary detectable tumor. CUP is one of the ten most frequent cancers, with overall poor outcome. Detection of the unknown primary tumor is of crucial importance in this scenario, since it might help to select and offer definitive treatment, which, in turn, may improve patient prognosis. Additional diagnostic work-up, usually consisting of a combination of several radiological and endoscopic investigations and serum tumor marker studies, can be time consuming, expensive, and pose a significant burden to the patient. The final diagnostic yield of these tests is often limited. Combined positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), using the radiotracer 18F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG), may be of great value in the management of patients with CUP for the detection of primary tumors. This chapter gives a brief introduction to the syndrome of CUP, followed by an outline of the rationale, use, and utility of FDG-PET/CT in CUP, and concludes with a discussion on the challenges and future directions in the diagnostic management of patients with CUP.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Thomas C. Kwee

  2. Division of Nuclear Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Sandip Basu & Abass Alavi

  3. Radiation Medicine Centre (BARC), Tata Memorial Hospital Annexe, Parel, Mumbai, India

    Sandip Basu

Authors
  1. Thomas C. Kwee
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  2. Sandip Basu
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  3. Abass Alavi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas C. Kwee .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Radiology, University of Iowa, Hawkins Drive 200, Iowa City, 52242-1009, Iowa, USA

    Malik E. Juweid

  2. , Dept. Nuclear Medicine & PET Research, VU University Medical Centre, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, Netherlands

    Otto S. Hoekstra

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© 2011 Humana Press

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Kwee, T.C., Basu, S., Alavi, A. (2011). PET and PET/CT for Unknown Primary Tumors. In: Juweid, M., Hoekstra, O. (eds) Positron Emission Tomography. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 727. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-062-1_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-062-1_17

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-061-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-062-1

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