Impact of 18F FDG PET/CT on management of incidental gallbladder carcinoma

Abstract

Abstract Background Incidental gallbladder carcinoma (IGBC) is identified after cholecystectomy being performed for a presumed to be benign disease, and histopathology turns out as malignant disease. For optimal management planning, it is crucial to know the actual disease status. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) provides local, regional as well as distant disease, i.e., restaging and identifying true burden of disease for optimal treatment planning. The aim of this study was to restage the IGBC patients on 18F FDG PET/CT and find out any change in treatment plan. Methods This retrospective descriptive study was performed between November 2021 and February 2023. All PET/CT scans were analyzed which came for restaging in IGBC. Results PET/CT was performed at a median time of 9 weeks (range 6–12 weeks) from the date of surgery. This study included 17 patients (6 males and 11 females), with a median age of 55 years (range 38–76 years). From total of 17 PET/CT scans, 10 (58.8%) patients were positive and 7 (41.1%) patients were negative on PET/CT. Among the PET/CT positive patients, disease pattern was seen in the form of local/residual disease/liver infiltration, regional lymph nodes and distant metastases. Among the 17 patients, treatment plan in 5 patients (having PET/CT negative) was changed from surgical intervention to no treatment, and in 2 patients (having PET/CT positive), treatment plan was changed to chemotherapy, i.e., total 7 (5 + 2, 41% of total 17 patients) patients’ treatment plans were changed. By reducing the number of patients undergoing re-resection, we can say that it reduces the burden on already overburdened health infrastructure, especially in developing countries like India where incident is high. Conclusions PET/CT provides the actual stage of IGBC. It changes treatment plan and reduces the number of patients undergoing re-resection. It also decreases burden on overburdened health infrastructure.

Keywords

• 18F FDG PET-CT
• Incidental gallbladder carcinoma
• Restaging
• Neuroendocrine gallbladder carcinoma
• Cholelithiasis
• Cholecystitis