MD Anderson author recommends initial staging PET/CT for newly diagnosed IBC

[Lani]

1: J Nucl Med. 2009 Jan 21. [Epub ahead of print]

Retrospective Study of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the Diagnosis of Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Preliminary Data.

Carkaci S, Macapinlac HA, Cristofanilli M, Mawlawi O, Rohren E, Gonzalez Angulo AM, Dawood S, Resetkova E, Le-Petross HT, Yang WT.
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
Our objective was to retrospectively evaluate (18)F-FDG PET/CT in the initial staging of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). METHODS: The institutional review board waived informed consent and approved this study, which was compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The cases of 41 women with a mean age of 50 y (range, 25-71 y) and newly diagnosed IBC who underwent (18)F-FDG PET/CT at diagnosis were retrospectively reviewed. All PET/CT images were analyzed visually and semiquantitatively by 2 physicians. The maximum standardized uptake value in the primary breast, regional nodes (axillary, subpectoral, supraclavicular, internal mammary), and extranodal regions was documented. The accuracy of PET/CT image interpretation was assessed by histopathologic analysis, if available; concurrent or subsequent imaging findings (contrast-enhanced CT, contrast-enhanced MRI, sonography, or PET/CT follow-up); or clinical follow-up. RESULTS: All patients presented with unilateral IBC. PET/CT showed hypermetabolic uptake in the skin in all patients, in the affected breast in 40 (98%), in the ipsilateral axillary nodes in 37 (90%), and in the ipsilateral subpectoral nodes in 18 (44%). Twenty patients (49%) were found to have distant metastases at staging, 7 (17%) of whom were not known to have metastases before undergoing PET/CT. Disease sites included bone, liver, contralateral axilla, lung, chest wall, pelvis, and the subpectoral, supraclavicular, internal mammary, mediastinal, and abdominal nodes. CONCLUSION: PET/CT should be considered in the initial staging of IBC, as the technique provided valuable information on locoregional and distant disease in this preliminary retrospective study.
PMID: 19164229

[Henny]

From what I've seen while working at an imaging center I think all new diagnosed bc should have a PET/CT during workup.