The Role of FDG-PET and Whole-Body MRI in High Grade Bone Sarcomas With Particular Focus on Osteosarcoma

Sarcoma represents less than 2% of adult malignancies and about 15% to 20% of malignan-cies in children and adolescents/young adults. This neoplasm accounts for more than 80 different clinico-pathological entities with different clinical behavior; osteosarcoma and ewing sarcoma are the most frequent primary bone tumors. Because of the general poor prognosis, it is important to find out as many prognostic factors as possible to choose the best therapeutical approach and to correctly schedule the follow-up examinations. Third level imaging such as MRI and PET/CT are of utmost importance in the evaluation of sar-coma patients. The spine and bones in general are optimal sites to be evaluated with FDG PET/CT since the physiological background is low. The standardized uptake value (SUV max, a semiquantitave parameter) is used as a surrogate for proliferative cell rate, and the spatial heterogeneity of FDG distribution within the primary mass as a surrogate for malig-nancy. In several studies SUVmax was a predictive value for overall survival and progres-sion-free survival. Whole-body MRI is a well-established technique for systemic, radiation -free evaluation, which is mostly applied in the oncological field. WB-MRI provides a combi-nation of anatomical and functional sequences and is useful specifically in the evaluation of disease in organs with relatively high background activity such as the brain, liver, kidney, and spinal canal. These technologies provide accurate staging (also useful to drive the biopsy towards the most active foci in large heterogeneous masses), therapy assessment, relapse detection of local recurrence and distance metastasis but also prognostic indexes, in the context of whole body diagnostic procedures. This paper will provide an overview of the role and added value of PET/CT and WB-MRI in bone sarcomas particular focus on oste-osarcoma. We also analyzed the role of the PET/CT and MRI for target delineation of radia-tion therapy and we and we will do an analysis of future prospects as new tracer non FDG. Semin Nucl Med 52:635-646 (c) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that accounts for a small percentage of adult malignancies but a higher percentage in children and young adults. It has various subtypes with different clinical behaviors, with osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma being the most common primary bone tumors. MRI and PET/CT imaging play a crucial role in evaluating sarcoma patients, while whole-body MRI provides comprehensive and radiation-free assessment. These technologies are important for staging, treatment evaluation, relapse detection, and prognostic assessment of sarcomas.