PET with Fluorodeoxyglucose F 18/Computed Tomography in the Clinical Management and Patient Outcomes of Esophageal Cancer.

PET with fluorodeoxyglucose F 18/computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET/CT) has evolved into an indispensable imaging technique in the management of patients with esophageal cancer. Staging with (18)F-FDG PET/CT is strongly associated with overall survival and certain (18)F-FDG PET/CT parameters predict patient survival. Current evidence supporting the validity of the use of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in the tumor delineation process for radiation treatment planning in patients with esophageal cancer is still limited. It is useful in determining treatment response after neoadjuvant therapy and thereby has an impact on management. (18)F-FDG PET/CT plays a role in the diagnosis of recurrent disease in patients with a background of clinical suspicion.