Updated evidence on the accuracy of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in esophageal cancer staging: a systematic review of studies published between 2017 and 2024

Puntos clave

• Improved sensitivity for tumor and nodal staging in esophageal cancer noted with 18F-FDG PET/CT, aiming to optimize diagnostic accuracy.
• Key limitations include challenges in detecting small lesions and differentiating between inflammation and cancer.
• The analysis covers studies from 2017 to 2024, focusing on advancements in imaging technology and techniques.
• Future research directives include combining PET/CT with endoscopic ultrasound and optimizing SUVmax cutoff points.

Resumen