Choosing Wisely:

Don’t use positron emission tomography/CT for cancer screening in healthy individuals.

Search Recommendations

Rationale and Comments: The likelihood of finding cancer in healthy adults is extremely low (around 1%), based on studies using positron emission tomography/CT for screening. Imaging without clear clinical indication is likely to identify harmless findings that lead to more tests, biopsy, or unnecessary surgery.
Sponsoring Organizations:
  • Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
    • Sources:
  • Expert consensus
    		•
    Disciplines:
  • Oncologic
  • Preventive Medicine
    		•
    References: • Lee JW, et al. Cancer screening using 18F-FDG PET/CT in Korean asymptomatic volunteers: a preliminary report. Ann Nucl Med. 2009;23(7):685-91.
    • Minamimoto R, et al. Analysis of various malignant neoplasms detected by FDG-PET cancer screening program: based on a Japanese Nationwide Survey. Ann Nucl Med. 2011;25(1):45-54.
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