Positron Emission Tomography/Computerized Tomography for the Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist

published online 11 November 2008.

Combined positron emission tomography/computerized tomography (PET/CT) imaging with fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) allows fusion of structural and attenuation information provided by CT with functional imaging derived from PET, improving the radiologic assessment of normal anatomic structures and pathologic lesions. PET/CT allows accurate location of hypermetabolic foci identified at PET with its morphologic structure on CT, reducing the incidence of false-positive and false-negative imaging findings with PET alone.

Abbreviations used in this paper: ceCT, contrast-enhanced computerized tomography, CT, computerized tomography, EUS, endoscopic ultrasound, FDG, fluorodeoxyglucose, PET, positron emission tomography

Department of Abdominal and Interventional Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

Address requests for reprints to: Carmel Cronin, MRCPI, FFR(RCSI), Department of Abdominal and Interventional Radiology, White 270, 55 Fruit Street, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114. fax: (617) 726-4891

The authors disclose no conflicts.

PII: S1542-3565(08)01117-8

doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2008.10.033

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