After initial treatment of breast cancer; localization of metastases or recurrences remains a serious challenge that requiring an extensive diagnostic workup. Current literature states that FDG PET/CT should be the first whole-body imaging modality used for restaging in breast cancer patients who are suspected of having disease recurrence. Aim of the work: We aim in our study to highlight the value of PET/CT in diagnosis of local recurrence and/or metastasis in breast cancer. Patients and Methods: We performed whole body 18F FDG-PET/CT on 37 breast carcinoma patients, regardless the pathological subtypes, presenting with clinical, laboratory and/or radiological suspicion of loco-regional or distant metastatic recurrence. Recurrence is defined as evidence of recurrent lesions within 6 months of the FDG-PET/CT based on conventional imaging techniques, pathology, or clinical follow-up.
Results: A total of thirty seven patients eliciting eighty eight suspicious lesions were evaluated. The overall sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of FDG-PET/CT in our study are 98.65%, 85.71% and 96.59%; the results provide supportive evidence for a role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in determining the stage of disease for high- and intermediate-risk patients. Conclusion: Our results indicated that PET/CT is the most sensitive and accurate tool for follow-up of breast cancer patients presenting with clinical, laboratory and/or radiologic suspicion of loco-regional ordistant metastatic recurrence, hence; FDG-PET/CT should be used as a first priority in patients with steadily rising serum CA15-3 levels, or with clinical/ radiologic suspicion of recurrence.