Evidence from Primary Studies and Systematic Reviews and Recommendations from Clinical Practice Guidelines July to December 2019

Guideline Objective:

As part of a regular monitoring program recommended by the PEBC, a systematic review of recent evidence on the use of PET in patients with cancer, sarcoidosis, epilepsy or dementia is conducted every six months. This report is intended to be a high-level, brief summary of the identified evidence, and not a detailed evaluation of its quality and relevance.

Patient Population:

Adult and pediatric patients with suspected or diagnosed cancer(s), sarcoidosis, epilepsy or dementia (The cancer is not limited to those cancers with approved or Ontario Health Insurance (OHIP) insured services).

Intended Guideline Users:

Ontario PET Steering Committee

Research Questions:

What is the role of positron emission tomography (PET) in the clinical management of patients with cancer, sarcoidosis, epilepsy or dementia with respect to:

• Diagnosis and staging
• Assessment of treatment response
• Detection and restaging of recurrence
• Evaluation of metastasis

Outcomes of interest are survival, quality of life, prognostic indicators, time until recurrence, safety outcomes (e.g., avoidance of unnecessary surgery), and change in clinical management.