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Letter from the editor: Radiology and “pet” names
Seminars in Roentgenology VOL
37, N O
APRIL 2002
2
Letter From the Editor: Radiology and "Pet" Names Y DEFINITION, a pet is a person or thing especially cherished and is perhaps best illustrated by the euphemism teacher's pet. The word pet can also be used to define something that is favored or preferred (ie, pet theory). Also it can be used to show affection as in pet names. In the past decade, the radiologist's pet has been the computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan. Newer technology has resulted in tremendous growth in the use of this imaging modality, such that it has become the preferred radiologic test for many clinical situations. One might view the CAT scan as the clinician's pet. The use of magnetic resonance imaging has also increased dramatically because of advanced technology and new clinical applications. But an even newer technology, if not seen as a replacement for, is certainly being seen as a companion to computed tomography (CT) scanning. Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning may soon compete with CT scanning as the clinician's pet. In their article, Drs Hagge and Coleman state, "Truly, FDG PET has earned its place as the new standard of care in imaging non-small-cell lung cancer. ''1 Originally described in the early 1970s, PET scanning has only recently been used in a large number of patients. Although CT scanning provides anatomic information, PET imaging, through increased glucose metabolism by malignant cells, physiologically differentiates between benign and malignant abnormalities. The increased availability of 2-[F-18]-2-fluorodeoxyglucose and reimbursement for PET imaging
B
Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved. doi:l O.]O53/sroe.2002.34211
Seminars in Roentgenology, Vol 37, No 2 (April), 2002: p 97
through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (formerly known as Health Care Finance Administration) has led to a marked expansion in the use of this technology in both academic and nonacademic settings. Properly performed imaging using FDG PET is a sensitive method for detecting, staging, and following the effects of therapy of many malignancies. The indications for PET include, but are not limited to, evaluation of abnormalities detected on other imaging modalities to distinguish between benign or malignant etiologies; staging patients with known malignancy; determining the effect of therapy on known malignancies; determining if residual abnormalities on imaging studies after treatment represent tumor or posttreatment fibrosis; searching for an unknown primary when metastases are discovered; and follow-up studies to detect recurrence, especially in the presence of elevated tumor markers or symptoms. 2 I am pleased that Dr Coleman agreed to guest edit this issue of Seminars in Roentgenology on PET oncology. I hope you find the articles stimulating and educational. Learning more about this new imaging modality has been my pet project this past year, and I am grateful to Dr Coleman and the authors he recruited for helping this old pet learn new tricks.
Jannette Collins, MD, MEd, FCCP Editor REFERENCES 1. Hagge RJ, Coleman RE: Positron emission tomography: Lung cancer. Semin Roent 37:xxx-xxx, 2002 2. American College of Radiology Standard for the Performance of FDG-PET Scintigraphy in Oncology. Available at: www.acr.org. Accessed May 15, 2002
97
37, N O
APRIL 2002
2
Letter From the Editor: Radiology and "Pet" Names Y DEFINITION, a pet is a person or thing especially cherished and is perhaps best illustrated by the euphemism teacher's pet. The word pet can also be used to define something that is favored or preferred (ie, pet theory). Also it can be used to show affection as in pet names. In the past decade, the radiologist's pet has been the computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan. Newer technology has resulted in tremendous growth in the use of this imaging modality, such that it has become the preferred radiologic test for many clinical situations. One might view the CAT scan as the clinician's pet. The use of magnetic resonance imaging has also increased dramatically because of advanced technology and new clinical applications. But an even newer technology, if not seen as a replacement for, is certainly being seen as a companion to computed tomography (CT) scanning. Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning may soon compete with CT scanning as the clinician's pet. In their article, Drs Hagge and Coleman state, "Truly, FDG PET has earned its place as the new standard of care in imaging non-small-cell lung cancer. ''1 Originally described in the early 1970s, PET scanning has only recently been used in a large number of patients. Although CT scanning provides anatomic information, PET imaging, through increased glucose metabolism by malignant cells, physiologically differentiates between benign and malignant abnormalities. The increased availability of 2-[F-18]-2-fluorodeoxyglucose and reimbursement for PET imaging
B
Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved. doi:l O.]O53/sroe.2002.34211
Seminars in Roentgenology, Vol 37, No 2 (April), 2002: p 97
through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (formerly known as Health Care Finance Administration) has led to a marked expansion in the use of this technology in both academic and nonacademic settings. Properly performed imaging using FDG PET is a sensitive method for detecting, staging, and following the effects of therapy of many malignancies. The indications for PET include, but are not limited to, evaluation of abnormalities detected on other imaging modalities to distinguish between benign or malignant etiologies; staging patients with known malignancy; determining the effect of therapy on known malignancies; determining if residual abnormalities on imaging studies after treatment represent tumor or posttreatment fibrosis; searching for an unknown primary when metastases are discovered; and follow-up studies to detect recurrence, especially in the presence of elevated tumor markers or symptoms. 2 I am pleased that Dr Coleman agreed to guest edit this issue of Seminars in Roentgenology on PET oncology. I hope you find the articles stimulating and educational. Learning more about this new imaging modality has been my pet project this past year, and I am grateful to Dr Coleman and the authors he recruited for helping this old pet learn new tricks.
Jannette Collins, MD, MEd, FCCP Editor REFERENCES 1. Hagge RJ, Coleman RE: Positron emission tomography: Lung cancer. Semin Roent 37:xxx-xxx, 2002 2. American College of Radiology Standard for the Performance of FDG-PET Scintigraphy in Oncology. Available at: www.acr.org. Accessed May 15, 2002
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