18-FDG PET-CT should be included in preoperative staging of gall bladder cancer

Background Only few retrospective studies have looked into the ability of PET-CT to diagnose distant metastases in gall bladder cancer (GBC) patients with variable results. This study aims to determine the utility of PET –CT in potentially resectable GBC. Methods All GBC patients with resectable disease on CECT chest, abdomen & pelvis were subjected to FDG- PET-CT scan. Incidental GBC was excluded. All additional findings and change in management plan was recorded. Results Out of 149 patients, 99 (66.4%) were females and the mean age was 56.7 ± 11.0 years,. After PET scan, additional findings were seen in 46/149 (30.9%) patients and it lead to change in management plan in 35 (23.4%) patients due to the presence of distant metastases. Impact of PET scan in changing the stage was higher in patients having node positive disease on CECT (26/96, 27%) as compared to node negative patients (9/53, 16.9%), but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.233). After assessment on CECT, 76 patients were planned for NACT in view of locally advanced disease but after PET-CT in these patients, the management plan changed to palliative chemotherapy in 26 (34.2%) cases whereas it changed in only 9 out of 73 (12.3%) patients who were planned for upfront surgery (p = 0.003). Conclusion Our results show that preoperative staging workup for GBC should include PET-CT as it changed the management plan in approximately one-fourth of all resectable GBC patients and in one-third of locally advanced cases.