Clinical Impact of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in the Diagnostic Workup of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Systematic Review

• Main Authors: Annachiara Arnone, Riccardo Laudicella, Federico Caobelli, Priscilla Guglielmo, Marianna Spallino, Elisabetta Abenavoli, Anna Lisa Martini, Rossella Filice, Alessio Danilo Comis, Marco Cuzzocrea, Flavia Linguanti, Laura Evangelista, Pierpaolo Alongi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-12-01
• Series: Diagnostics
• Subjects: pancreas; positron emission tomography; PET/CT; pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma; FDG
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/10/12/1042

In this review, the performance of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in the diagnostic workup of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is evaluated. A comprehensive literature search up to September 2020 was performed, selecting studies with the presence of: sample size ≥10 patients and index test (i.e., “FDG” or “18F-FDG” AND “pancreatic adenocarcinoma” or “pancreas cancer” AND “PET” or “positron emission tomography”). The methodological quality was evaluated using the revised quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies (QUADAS-2) tool and presented according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Basic data (authors, year of publication, country and study design), patients’ characteristics (number of enrolled subjects and age), disease phase, type of treatment and grading were retrieved. Forty-six articles met the adopted research criteria. The articles were divided according to the considered clinical context. Namely, besides conventional anatomical imaging, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), molecular imaging with FDG PET/CT is an important tool in PDAC, for all disease stages. Further prospective studies will be necessary to confirm the cost-effectiveness of such imaging techniques by testing its real potential improvement in the clinical management of PDAC.