Meet FLT PET: A New Hope for Mesothelioma Patients
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Meet FLT PET: A New Hope for Mesothelioma Patients

ByHolly Zink

There’s a new tool called F18-Fluorothymidine (FLT) PET. It takes pictures inside the body and focuses on how the cancer cells are growing. A more traditional tool, FDG PET, has been used for a while. A study in the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology compared these tools. They wanted to see which tool, FDG PET or FLT PET, could tell doctors more about how well the treatment was working. Understanding Tools That Help Mesothelioma Patients Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, heart, or abdomen. It is often caused by exposure to asbestos, a harmful mineral that was used in construction and other industries. Due to its aggressive nature, mesothelioma can be hard…

Predicting Mesothelioma Outcomes with FDG-PET: A New Model
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Predicting Mesothelioma Outcomes with FDG-PET: A New Model

ByAlex Strauss

Swiss doctors have created a new tool for predicting mesothelioma outcomes with FDG-PET scans.  FDG-PET scanning is a nuclear imaging technique. It gives doctors a non-invasive way to track the growth of pleural mesothelioma tumors.  The Swiss team analyzed multiple PET scans and CT scans from mesothelioma patients. They used a computer to look for commonalities in the scans. Then they used the information to create a computer model for predicting mesothelioma outcomes with FDG-PET. The model may help doctors and patients make better decisions about mesothelioma treatment in the future.  Imaging Studies for Mesothelioma Prognosis Pleural mesothelioma tumors occur on the pleural lining around the lungs. In the early stages, mesothelioma causes few symptoms. As mesothelioma tumors grow, they…

Tracking Mesothelioma Recurrence: FDG-PET/CT Versus CT
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Tracking Mesothelioma Recurrence: FDG-PET/CT Versus CT

ByAlex Strauss

FDG-PET/CT may be a more effective way to track malignant pleural mesothelioma recurrence than contrast-enhanced CT scanning.  That is the conclusion of cancer researchers with Japan’s Hyogo College of Medicine. The researchers focused on fifty patients who underwent radical surgery for pleural mesothelioma. Afterwards, doctors used both FDG-PET/CT and contrast-enhanced CT scans to track mesothelioma progression. Two experienced examiners assessed the cases. They concluded that FDG-PET/CT was more accurate than CT for diagnosing mesothelioma recurrence. Mesothelioma Recurrence After Surgery Pleural mesothelioma is one of the most difficult cancers to treat. It arises in the layers of the pleural membrane that surrounds the lungs. Mesothelioma tumors tend to grow and spread quickly. Treatments like chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy can sometimes slow…

FDG/PET Best for Mesothelioma Diagnosis and Prognosis
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FDG/PET Best for Mesothelioma Diagnosis and Prognosis

ByAlex Strauss

When it comes to diagnosing mesothelioma and predicting patient prognosis, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) using a radioactive tracer may be the most effective imaging modality. That’s the finding of a new study out of Japan. Mesothelioma is a fast-growing cancer that starts on the mesothelial membranes which line the chest cavity or wrap around the lungs and heart. It is caused by past exposure to asbestos, most often in an industrial setting. The greater the level of exposure, the greater the likelihood that mesothelioma will occur. Because it is highly resistant to conventional treatments, early diagnosis is critical. Unfortunately, mesothelioma can also be challenging to diagnose. If patient history and symptoms suggest mesothelioma, imaging modalities like computed tomography (CT) and X-rays can…

Mesothelioma Prognosis Accuracy Improves with PET/CT ‘Delayed Phase’
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Mesothelioma Prognosis Accuracy Improves with PET/CT ‘Delayed Phase’

ByAlex Strauss

More research has confirmed the value of FDG-PET/CT technology for predicting treatment response in mesothelioma – especially when the scan is conducted in two phases. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a nuclear medicine imaging technique that produces three-dimensional images of functional processes in the body.  When the molecule FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose, a type of sugar) is used as the tracer, PET allows doctors to ‘see’ metabolic processes as they are happening.  Because metabolism is often higher in cancer cells, FDG-PET has proven to be a useful tool for diagnosing mesothelioma, the asbestos-linked cancer.   When FDG-PET is combined with computed tomography (CT), another powerful imaging test, the resulting images contain even more potentially crucial diagnostic, staging and prognostic information for mesothelioma. Now, a study conducted in Japan…