Is 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro-D-glucose PET/CT acquisition from the upper thigh to the vertex of skull useful in oncological patients?

Aim:To assess whether performing routinely 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose PET/CT (18FDG PET/CT) scanfrom the upper thigh to the vertex of skull is clinically relevant. Materials and Methods: 3502 (1634 female; mean-age 60+16) consecutive patients undergoing 18 FDG PET/CT were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided in 10 groups according to primar y malignancy. Chi-square analysis was used to assess differences among proportions. A p value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: 18 FDG PET/CT was positive in head district in 130/3502 (3,7%) patients. In all patients lesions were unknown before PET/CT examination. PET/CT showed 158 positive brain/head uptake in the 130 patients.…