<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
				
				Background. The aim of the study was to meta-analyze published data about prevalence and malignancy risk of focal colorectal incidentalomas (FCIs) detected by Fluorine-18-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography or positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET or PET/CT). 
				Methods. A comprehensive computer literature search of studies published through July 31st 2012 regarding FCIs detected by 18F-FDG-PET or PET/CT was performed. Pooled prevalence of patients with FCIs and risk of malignant or premalignant FCIs after colonoscopy or histopathology verification were calculated. Furthermore, separate calculations for geographic areas were performed. Finally, average standardized uptake values (SUV) in malignant, premalignant and benign FCIs were reported. 
				Results. Thirty-two studies comprising 89,061 patients evaluated by 18F-FDG-PET or PET/CT were included. The pooled prevalence of FCIs detected by 18F-FDG-PET or PET/CT was 3.6% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 2.6-4.7%). Overall, 1,044 FCIs detected by 18F-FDG-PET or PET/CT underwent colonoscopy or histopathology evaluation. Pooled risk of malignant or premalignant lesions was 68% (95% CI: 60-75%). Risk of malignant and premalignant FCIs in Asia-Oceania was lower compared to that of Europe and America. A significant overlap in average SUV was found between malignant, premalignant and benign FCIs. 
				Conclusions. FCIs are observed in a not negligible number of patients who undergo 18F-FDG-PET or PET/CT studies with a high risk of malignant or premalignant lesions. SUV is not reliable as a tool to differentiate between malignant, premalignant and benign FCIs. Further investigation is warranted whenever FCIs are detected by 18F-FDG-PET or PET/CT
			</abstract>

Background. The aim of the study was to meta-analyze published data about prevalence and malignancy risk of focal colorectal incidentalomas (FCIs) detected by Fluorine-18-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography or positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET or PET/CT). 
				Methods. A comprehensive computer literature search of studies published through July 31st 2012 regarding FCIs detected by 18F-FDG-PET or PET/CT was performed. Pooled prevalence of patients with FCIs and risk of malignant or premalignant FCIs after colonoscopy or histopathology verification were calculated. Furthermore, separate calculations for geographic areas were performed. Finally, average standardized uptake values (SUV) in malignant, premalignant and benign FCIs were reported. 
				Results. Thirty-two studies comprising 89,061 patients evaluated by 18F-FDG-PET or PET/CT were included. The pooled prevalence of FCIs detected by 18F-FDG-PET or PET/CT was 3.6% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 2.6-4.7%). Overall, 1,044 FCIs detected by 18F-FDG-PET or PET/CT underwent colonoscopy or histopathology evaluation. Pooled risk of malignant or premalignant lesions was 68% (95% CI: 60-75%). Risk of malignant and premalignant FCIs in Asia-Oceania was lower compared to that of Europe and America. A significant overlap in average SUV was found between malignant, premalignant and benign FCIs. 
				Conclusions. FCIs are observed in a not negligible number of patients who undergo 18F-FDG-PET or PET/CT studies with a high risk of malignant or premalignant lesions. SUV is not reliable as a tool to differentiate between malignant, premalignant and benign FCIs. Further investigation is warranted whenever FCIs are detected by 18F-FDG-PET or PET/CT

Prevalence and malignancy risk of focal colorectal incidental uptake detected by 18F-FDG-PET or PET/CT: a meta-analysis

Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT Center, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Bellinzona, Switzerland

Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy

Institute of Radiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy

School of Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy

Nuclear Medicine Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Radiology and Oncology

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Prevalence and malignancy risk of focal colorectal incidental uptake detected by F-FDG-PET or PET/CT: a meta-analysis

Background. The aim of the study was to meta-analyze published data about prevalence and malignancy risk of focal colorectal incidentalomas (FCIs) detected by...

Prevalence and malignancy risk of focal colorectal incidental uptake detected by ¹⁸F-FDG-PET or PET/CT: a meta-analysis

Published Online: Apr 25, 2014

Page range: 99 - 104

Received: Dec 18, 2012

Accepted: May 01, 2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/raon-2013-0035

Keywords
PET/CT, fluorodeoxyglucose, colonic uptake, incidentaloma, focal uptake, colorectal cancer

© by Giorgio Treglia

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Prevalence and malignancy risk of focal colorectal incidental uptake detected by 18F-FDG-PET or PET/CT: a meta-analysis

Published Online: Apr 25, 2014

Page range: 99 - 104

Received: Dec 18, 2012

Accepted: May 01, 2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/raon-2013-0035

KeywordsPET/CT, fluorodeoxyglucose, colonic uptake, incidentaloma, focal uptake, colorectal cancer

© by Giorgio Treglia

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Prevalence and malignancy risk of focal colorectal incidental uptake detected by ¹⁸F-FDG-PET or PET/CT: a meta-analysis

Keywords
PET/CT, fluorodeoxyglucose, colonic uptake, incidentaloma, focal uptake, colorectal cancer