PET and PET/CT in the Diagnosis and Staging of Esophageal and Gastric Cancers

Esophageal and gastric cancers are among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Determining stage of disease at presentation is important in the selection of appropriate management. PET and integrated PET/CT are increasingly being used to initially stage patients who have esophageal and gastric cancers. Although PET has a limited role in the evaluation of the primary tumor and in the detection of locoregional nodal metastases, it is important in the detection of distant metastases. This article reviews the role of PET and PET/CT imaging in the diagnosis, initial staging, and detection of recurrent disease in patients who have esophageal and gastric cancers and elucidates the appropriate use of PET and PET/CT in determining the T, N, and M descriptors of the American Joint Commission on Cancer's guidelines for pathologic and clinical staging.