The Benefit of 18f-FDG PET/CT in Breast Cancer Patient Staging and Treatment Planning: A Case Report

A 50 year old female patient was treated with left mastectomy plus axillary dissection for ductal infiltrating carcinoma mpT1c pN1(1/15) M0 in October 2009. The patient was staged post-operatively with 18F-FDG PET/CT and unexpected internal mammary chain lymph node metastases were detected. The patient received adjuvant chemo/hormonal therapy and radiotherapy on regional lymph nodes up to a dose of 50 Gy with a volume modulated arc (VMAT) technique, reaching a complete response. At 5 year follow-up the patient is still alive in complete response without radiotherapy late toxicity.