Gertsen EC, Brenkman HJF, van Hillegersberg R, et al. - Researchers investigated the benefits of performing 18F-fludeoxyglucose–positron emission tomography with computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) and staging laparoscopy in addition to initial staging by means of gastroscopy and CT in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer.

• A multicenter cohort study of 394 patients with locally advanced, clinically curable gastric adenocarcinoma (≥ cT3 and/or N+, M0 category based on CT).

• Detection of metastatic disease in 3% of patients was enabled by FDG-PET/CT and detection of metastatic or noncurable disease in 19% of patients was enabled by staging laparoscopy.

• Sixteen percent of the patients had a change in treatment intent from curative to palliative.

• Overall, there appeared limited additive value of FDG-PET/CT, but staging laparoscopy seemed adding considerably to the staging process in these patients.