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The issuance of new practice guidelines for fibroblast activation protein (FAP) PET imaging marks a significant step in standardizing its use for improved diagnostic efficacy in cancer and other diseases.
FAP PET is increasingly recognized for its potential in accurately diagnosing and managing cancer. These guidelines provide clear standards and protocols to optimize its application, benefiting both patients and healthcare providers by improving diagnostic precision and treatment outcomes.
The introduction of new guidelines for FAP PET imaging by SNMMI and EANM focuses on optimizing its use in oncology and beyond. These guidelines outline the clinical indications for FAP PET, including various cancers and fibrotic disorders, and emphasize the need for standardized procedures and quality control measures. By providing actionable standards, these guidelines enhance the diagnostic accuracy of FAP PET and support its adoption in clinical practice, thus contributing to better patient management and outcomes.
FAP PET guidelines are intended to improve diagnostic accuracy and consistency in clinical practice.
The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, together with the European Association of Nuclear Medicine, has issued guidelines aimed at standardizing the use of fibroblast activation protein PET imaging. These guidelines emphasize enhancing diagnostic accuracy and consistency across clinical settings.
"The primary focus of this guideline is its oncologic applications." said Thomas A. Hope.
FAP PET has diverse applications in oncology, providing insights into cancer staging and therapy evaluation.
FAP PET imaging is uniquely poised to enhance cancer treatment due to its ability to image fibroblast activation within tumors. This imaging modality is particularly useful for cancer staging, re-staging, and assessing therapy response.
Research has demonstrated its potential benefits across a variety of cancers, including gastro-intestinal adenocarcinoma, esophageal cancer, and breast cancer, among others. This broad applicability underscores its value in oncologic imaging.
"FAP-targeted PET offers a new approach in molecular imaging for oncological and non-oncological diseases." noted the SNMMI Clinical Practice Committee.
Guidelines help streamline FAP PET protocols, enhancing both practitioner confidence and patient outcomes.
The implementation of standardized guidelines is anticipated to significantly elevate the quality of FAP PET imaging. This, in turn, facilitates more reliable diagnostic conclusions and supports the integration of FAP PET into routine clinical practice.
As more healthcare professionals adopt these guidelines, the consistency of FAP PET application is likely to improve, contributing to better patient management and outcomes.
"The guideline aims to assist providers in recommending, performing, interpreting and reporting the results of FAP PET imaging studies," according to the SNMMI Clinical Practice Committee.
Hope, T. A. et al. (2024). SNMMI Procedure Standard/EANM Practice Guideline for Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP) PET. Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 66(1), 26-36. DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.124.269002
Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. (2024). Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP) PET. Retrieved January 28, 2025, from https://snmmi.org/Web/Clinical-Practice/Procedure-Standards/Standards/Fibroblast%20Activation%20Protein%20(FAP)%20PET.