Molecular Imaging for Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer: Clinical Applications of Whole Body and Dedicated Breast Positron Emission Tomography

Surg Oncol Clin N Am. 2022 Oct;31(4):569-579. doi: 10.1016/j.soc.2022.06.001.

Abstract

18F-fluoroestradiol (18F-FES) is a Food and Drug Administration-approved radiopharmaceutical used for molecular imaging of the estrogen receptor (ER). When combined with PET, 18F-FES may improve the diagnosis of ER-positive breast cancer in the metastatic setting and provide insights into tumor heterogeneity. In this article, we review data on the use of 18F-FES imaging for treatment selection, staging, imaging lobular breast cancer, and the novel breast specific imaging tool, dedicated breast PET.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Fluoroestradiol; Lobular breast cancer; Molecular imaging; Positron emission tomography; Staging.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Breast Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Estradiol
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Molecular Imaging
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Receptors, Estrogen*

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Estradiol