skip to main content

PET-CT Breast — SCE Medical Oncology MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

ModerateBreast CancerPET-CT BreastSCE Medical Oncology

A 60-year-old woman with HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer has bone-predominant disease being monitored by CT and bone scan. She asks about the role of 18F-FDG PET-CT in breast cancer response assessment. When is PET-CT particularly useful?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C — PET-CT is helpful for resolving equivocal findings on conventional imaging and for assessing bone-dominant disease where CT changes lag behind metabolic response

While not routinely used for response assessment in metastatic breast cancer, PET-CT has specific utility in bone-predominant disease where sclerotic bone metastases on CT may persist long after treatment response (sclerotic healing). PET-CT can distinguish metabolically active disease from treated/sclerotic bone. It is also useful for resolving equivocal findings on conventional imaging and for staging in specific clinical scenarios.

Reference: ESMO 2024 MBC Guidelines; NICE NG101