The Role of PET and PET/CT in the Surgical Management of Breast Cancer: A Review

The role of PET and PET/CT in the management of patients with breast cancer is in evolution. Recent investigations suggest dual time point imaging increases sensitivity of detection of smaller breast cancers even DCIS suggesting PET imaging may offer some value in patients where mammography is typically not particularly sensitive. PET/CT may have its greatest role in staging, especially for patients with locally advanced breast cancer and can even predict response to neoadjuvant therapy. PET/CT may be particularly useful in predicting the biology of higher risk triple-negative and HER-2/neupositive tumors. PET/CT will continue to play a major role in the management of patients with breast cancer.