PET imaging in renal cancer

Abstract

Purpose of review: Worldwide, over 400 000 new cases of kidney cancer were diagnosed and over 175 000 deaths anticipated in 2018. It is ranked as the 14th most common cancer in women and 9th most common in men. Imaging is important for initial detection, staging, and monitoring to assist treatment planning, but conventional anatomic imaging is limited. Although functional PET/CT has proven helpful in the diagnosis and management of many cancers, its value in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is still in evolution.

Recent findings: FDG is probably the most useful radiotracer in RCC, although CAIX imaging can be helpful in clear cell RCC. Current research on PET imaging agents in RCC including 89Zr bevacizumab, 89Zr geruntuximab, 18F fluoro-L-thymidine (FLT), prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), 11C choline, 18F sodium fluoride (NaF), and18F fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) have shown some interesting results for detection and prognosis of the disease.

Summary: Many innovative radiotracers have been tested in RCC, but robust differentiation of primary disease from normal parenchyma remains elusive for almost all of them. The metastatic setting and response to therapy for this cancer are more favorable PET applications. Continued research in promising molecular tracers will hopefully advance both diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to ultimately eradicate RCC.