The application of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in the radiotherapy of esophageal cancer

With the development of three dimensional conformal radiotherapy and intensity modulated radiotherapy, radiotherapy becomes an important treatment for esophageal cancer. Accurate staging and target volume delineation are prerequisites for a successful treatment of esophageal cancer with radiotherapy. Conventional cross-sectional images are helpful for guiding radiotherapy plans, assessing treatment response and detecting recurrence. But there are still many limitations for anatomic information alone. PET/CT is an imaging fusion modality which may overcome some limitations of conventional cross-sectional modalities. It plays an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer. This review evaluates the applications of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the initial staging before radiotherapy, its target volume definition, treatment response and the prognosis of esophageal cancer.