Abstract: Objective To assess the value of ¹⁸F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose(FDG) PET in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.Methods ¹⁸F-FDG PET imaging was performed on 29 patients with suspected pancreatic malignant tumors,and 11 cases with chronic pancreatitis.The final diagnosis was proved by pathologic results(n=31) and clinical or radiologic follow-up lasted 3～12 months(n=9).PET findings were compared with the results of abdominal CT done within 2 weeks.Fasting blood sugar levels were controlled in 3.9～6.7 mmol/L in all patients at first,then 5.55 MBq/kg of ¹⁸F-FDG was injected intravenously,the transmission and emission scans were performed 40 min after injection.The images of FDG PET were analyzed visually and semi-quantitatively using standard uptake value(SUV).Results PET had a sensitivity of 96.6%(28/29) and a specificity of 81.8%(9/11)in detecting pancreatic cancer in 40 patients,while CT had 75.9%(22/29) and 54.5%(6/11),respectively.¹⁸F-FDG PET had found metastases in liver,lung and lymph nodes which were not detected with CT in 6 cases.Conclusion ¹⁸F-FDG PET is very useful in the diagnosis and clinical staging of pancreatic cancer.

Key words: pancreatic neoplasm, diagnosis, positron-emission tomography, deoxyglucose