What is the role of PET/CT in cancer management?

• A. Uses metabolic information with anatomical imaging to detect, stage, and monitor treatment response
• B. Solely provides anatomical imaging
• C. Only used for initial diagnosis
• D. Completely replaces biopsy

Answer: (A)

PET/CT combines metabolic information from PET with anatomical detail from CT, giving a map of where active cancer cells are located within the body's structures. In cancer care, this dual view helps in detection, staging, and monitoring how well treatment is working because many tumors show increased glucose metabolism that can be detected before they cause visible changes on anatomy alone. The fused images localize metabolic activity to precise anatomic sites, improving accuracy in identifying involved nodes and distant metastases that might be missed on CT or MRI alone. It’s also helpful for assessing response early during therapy since a reduction in metabolic activity can precede shrinkage of the tumor, informing decisions about continuing, intensifying, or changing treatment. PET/CT can guide where to biopsy or target therapy, by highlighting the most metabolically active areas. It provides functional information in addition to structure, so it’s not used only for anatomy or only for initial diagnosis. While it often complements biopsy, it does not completely replace tissue diagnosis, which remains the definitive method for confirming cancer type. It also has roles beyond initial workup, including restaging and surveillance in appropriate cases.