Egbert U. Nitzsche, M.D. is currently Associate Professor of Nuclear Medicine at the University of Basel School of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Nuclear Medicine & PET Center at Aarau Cantonal Medical Center in Switzerland. He trained in Radiology including Diagnostic Imaging, Radiation Oncology and Nuclear Medicine at the University of Freiburg Medical Center, Germany, and in Nuclear Medicine and PET at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center. Professor Nitzsche’s research interests are positron emission tomography in oncology and cardiovascular disease, and general nuclear medicine in genitourinary imaging and radioisotopic therapy. He is board certified in Nuclear Medicine, is a member of the Society of Nuclear Medicine (USA) and a PET board member of the Swiss and German Societies of Nuclear Medicine. In addition, he serves as an Editorial Board member of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Why is integrated PET/CT attractive?

Egbert U. Nitzsche¹, Matthias Bruehlmeier¹, and Thomas Roeren^2
1Division of Nuclear Medicine & PET Center and ²Division of Diagnostic & Interventional Radiology, Aarau Cantonal Medical Center, Aarau, Switzerland

Address for correspondence:
Egbert U. Nitzsche, M.D.
Division of Nuclear Medicine & PET Center
Aarau Cantonal Medical Center
Tell Str. CH-5001 Aarau, Switzerland
Tel: +41 (62) 838 5470 Fax: +41 (62) 838 5491
Email: egbert.nitzsche@ksa.ch

Abstract
Imaging has emerged to have a central role in oncology based on its use in screening, diagnosis, staging, treatment planning, evaluation of response to treatment, and follow-up. This has created new obligations for both clinical oncologists and imaging experts. Recently, integrated PET/CT was added to the diagnostic methods for evaluation of cancer patients, now typically managed jointly by clinicians from several specialities. There is growing evidence that integrated PET/CT permits improved TNM (tumour, node and metastasis) staging of cancer. Consequently, it is time to summarise its advantages compared to the single modality PET and CT in clinical use. Medical, technical and economic facts support the use of single time–dual modality (integrated) PET/CT rather than dual time– single modality PET and CT imaging of thoracic lesions. There is no reason to deny patients integrated PET/CT. Therefore, the answer to the title question – Should integrated PET/CT be used for thoracic lesions? – is a clear-cut yes!

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