As mentioned above, the primary application of PET/CT examinations concerns onocological indications. This is due to the system's capacity to generate complex, functional, biological and structural information on viable, growing tumour tissues with high metabolic avtivity which can not be performed by other non-invasive diagnostic methods (laboratory parameters, X-ray examination, endoscopy, CT, MRI, SPECT, colour-coded ultrasound, etc.).
Oncological indications can be identified in general, or according to tumor histology or the affected organs.
In general terms, the use of PET/CT-examinations may be indicated in:
- early tumour diagnostics (early identification of tumour tissue with high metabolic activity),
- precise determination of the extension of tumours ("staging") using PET/CT information to apply a therapeutic plan, determine the limits of area to be treated surgically, and to target the volume of radiotherapy,
- non-invasive evaluation of the degree of tumour-malignancy,
- determination of the localization of biopsy,
- evaluation of the efficacy of an applied therapy ("restaging"),
- confirmation of presence or absence of recurrences.
