Vorster, MarizaDoruyter, A.Brink, A.Mkhize, S.Holness, J.Malan, N.Nyakale, Nozipho E.Warwick, J.M.Sathekge, Mike Machaba2016-05-112016-05-112016-01Vorster, M, Doruyter, A, Brink, A, Mkhize, S, Holness, J, Malan, N, Nyakale, N, Warwick, JM & Sathekge, M 2016, 'Appropriate indications for positron emission tomography/computed tomography, 2015', South African Medical Journal, vol. 106, no. 1, pp. 106-122.0256-9574 (print)2078-5135 (online)10.7196/SAMJ.2016.v106i1.10181http://hdl.handle.net/2263/52563These recommendations are intended to serve an important and relevant role in advising referring physicians on the appropriate use of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) and non-18F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), which can be a powerful tool in patient management in oncology, cardiology, neurology and infection/inflammation. PET is a non-invasive molecular imaging tool that provides tomographic images and quantitative parameters of perfusion, cell viability, proliferation and/or metabolic activity of tissues. These images result from the use of different substances of biological interest (sugars, amino acids, metabolic precursors, hormones) labelled with positron-emitting radionuclides (PET radiopharmaceuticals). Fusion of the aforementioned important functional information with the morphological detail provided by CT as PET/CT provides clinicians with a sensitive and accurate one-step whole-body diagnostic and prognostic tool, which directs and changes patient management. Hence PET/CT is currently the most widely used molecular imaging technology for a patient-tailored treatment approach. In these recommendations we outline which oncological and non-oncological indications are appropriate for PET/CT. Once each combination of pathology and clinical indication is defined, a recommendation is given as: 1. Recommended; 2. Recommended in select cases; 3. May be considered; or 4. Not recommended.en© 2016 Health & Medical Publishing Group. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial Works License (CC BY-NC 3.0).Patient managementImaging technology18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG)Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT)Article