Association between CEA titers and suspected recurrence on FDG-PET/CT during follow up of Colorectal Cancer - Is the magnitude of CEA elevation linked to sites of FDG-avid metastasis?

Conclusions: While FDG PET successfully identified CRC recurrences without serial CEA elevations, there was no significant link between site of FDG avid metastatic recurrence and CEA doubling times/ rising titers. The significant correlation between final diagnosis and rising CEA titers may be useful while planning imaging. Sigmoid and rectosigmoid carcinomas are more than 80% likely to have rising CEA titers while solely Rectal carcinoma was only 51% as likely, indicating a bigger role for PET/CT in the latter cases. CRC Subtype Diagnosis vs. CEA titersFinal Diagnosis Rising CEA Titers (Yes)Rising CEA Titers (No)TotalP ValueColon CA12(75%)4 (25%)160.022Rectal CA20 (51.3%)19 (48.7%)390.022Rectosigmoid CA4 (100%)040.022Sigmoid CA8 (80%)2 (20%)100.022Other1 (100%)010.022TOTAL45 (64.3%)25 (35.7%)70
Source: Journal of Nuclear Medicine - Category: Nuclear Medicine Authors: Tags: GI- Colorectal and Liver Source Type: research