The Role of PET/CT for Radiation Oncology

  • 13k

    Total downloads

  • 80k

    Total views and downloads

Submit your idea

You will be redirected to our submission process.

Submit your manuscript

About this Research Topic

Submission closed

Background

Pre-treatment PET/CT imaging provides a good clinical overview of the disease status and it is an ideal initial staging technique, especially for carcinomas with a high potential for metastasis. PET/CT, in contrast to PET, is the standard for imaging of cancer patients for treatment planning and follow-up, because the integrated CT scan enhances the sensitivity and accuracy of PET-signals by providing better imaging quality and there is simultaneous anatomic correlation. For radiation oncologist evaluating curative treatment options, PET/CT changes therapy in 10 – 30 % of cases, depending on the type of tumor. For the purpose of target volume definition, a variety of algorithms have been evaluated, depending on the tracers used and the clinical setting. In general, a method based on background subtraction is recommended. The size and the signal intensity, especially the ratio of intensity and volume may influence the volume calculation. Tracer uptake heterogeneity can be an obstacle to volume rendering for threshold-based volume methods, and anatomical correlation on CT images and target volume adaptation by the physician usually are necessary. Positive PET signals can improve the definition of the gross, clinical and planning target volume especially in case of regional metastasis, especially in case of regional metastasis, the target volumes might be increased. Anatomically more focused investigations may be required to decide what is the best local treatment. In combination with high resolution imaging techniques, PET/CT can increase the confidence of physicians and reduce the inter-observer variability in treatment planning treating while planning treatment with high radiation doses of PET-positive lesions. The tracer selection may vary with disease site; (18)F-FDG is used in most clinical situations. Tracers such as (18)F-tyrosine or (18)F-DOPA have been applied for functional imaging studies of brain tumors, especially for high grade glioma, where the assessment of post-radiotherapy tumor response is greatly improved by PET/CT. Brain lesions may remain Gadolinium contrast-avid but may become PET-negative, which is indicative of good local tumor regression. Defining viable tumor by metabolic rather than anatomic imaging adds a new dimension to post-treatment evaluation. For the imaging of prostate cancer, the use of PET remains controversial. Tracers such as (18)F- or (11)C-choline or (11)C-acetate have been studied, and the detection of locally recurrent prostate cancer after external beam radiotherapy may be facilitated. Bone metastasis from any source, can readily be detected with (18)F-NaF. A potential new indication for PET/CT after initiating radiotherapy is the monitoring of the cell proliferation rate of tumors to determine responsiveness with nucleotide traces such as 3'-deoxy-3'-(18)F-fluorothymidine ((18)F-FLT). PET/CT helps assess the biological aggressiveness of the disease, because signal intensity appears to correlate with the histological grade and the proliferation rate of tumor cells. In several settings, such as uterine or esophageal carcinoma, a high tracer uptake is correlated with prognosis of the underlying disease. Assessment of the response with PET/CT also allows tailored and adaptive therapy based on the changes of tracer uptake during or after the treatment. In the case of lymphomas, for example, post-induction complete metabolic response may lead to omission of additional therapy, such as consolidative radiotherapy in Hodgkin’s disease. PET/CT represents the ideal one-stop technique, which is convenient for patients and cost-effective. In many patients the timely use of PET/CT improves the staging, treatment planning and follow-up evaluation. In the present series of papers, PET/CT is established as state-of-the-art oncological imaging tool in the field for diagnosis, treatment response assessment, and follow-up of cancer patients.

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Topic editors

Frequently asked questions

  • Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

    Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.

  • The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.

    Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.

  • As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.

    A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.

  • Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and it falls under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

    In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

  • Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

    As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.

    Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

     

  • Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

    Check available article types here 

  • Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

    Suggest your topic here 

  • A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.

    The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.

  • As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 

     

    You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

  • As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).

  • If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

  • Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

  • Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

  • As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

    Find out more about our Research Topics

  • Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

    Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

  • In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.

     

Impact

  • 80kTopic views
  • 63kArticle views
  • 13kArticle downloads
View impact