Added Value of Fusion of Coincidence and CT to Image Interpretation and Patient Management
| Tumor type | Coincidence results alone | Fused image results | Added value of fused images to image interpretation | Added value of fused images to patient management |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lung cancer | Parahilar uptake | Localization of uptake to lung parenchyma, no evidence of LN involvement | Better anatomic localization, exclusion of nodal involvement | Accurate staging, referral for surgery |
| Lung cancer | Uptake in lung tumor and in additional abdominal site | Localization of abdominal site of uptake at left adrenal | Better anatomic localization, detection of metastatic spread | Accurate staging, referral for chemotherapy |
| Colorectal cancer | Uptake in right anterior abdomen | Uptake localized in ectopic kidney | Differentiation of physiologic from tumor uptake | Exclusion of disease |
| Colorectal cancer | Perirectal uptake | Focus of uptake in large perirectal residual mass | Better anatomic localization, detection of viable tissue within fibrosis | None |
| Colorectal cancer | Uptake in right upper abdomen | Physiologic uptake in hepatic flexure of colon | Differentiation of physiologic from tumor uptake | None |
| Colorectal cancer | Presacral and perineal uptake | Uptake in pelvic masses and in adjustment LNs | Better anatomic localization, detection of nodal involvement | None |
| Colorectal cancer | Pelvic uptake | Pelvic uptake extending to sacrum | Better anatomic localization, detection of adjacent bone involvement | Referral for radiotherapy to involved bone |
| Breast cancer | Uptake in left pelvis | Localization of uptake to iliac crest | Better anatomic localization, detection of bone involvement | None |
| Breast cancer | Uptake in breast and in paratracheal region | Localization of cervical uptake in thyroid nodule | Better anatomic localization, detection of unsuspected thyroid lesion | Thyroid lesion was found to be second primary tumor; breast and thyroid tumors were removed |
| Unknown primary | Sites of uptake in cervical, oropharynx, and retrosternal regions | Oropharynx uptake delineated lesion at that location on CT image; retrosternal uptake was located in postsurgical changes | Better anatomic localization, detection of unknown primary tumor, exclusion of disease in region of previous surgery | Referral for surgery and radiotherapy |
LN = lymph node.