Modern imaging techniques for preoperative detection of distant metastases in gastric cancer

Table 1 Summary of the current performance of modern imaging techniques in the preoperative detection of distant metastases in gastric cancer

	(Dis)advantages	Sensitivity	Specificity
EUS	Limited detection distance	Overall poor	Overall high
Standard ultrasonography	Operator and patient dependent	Overall poor	Overall high
CT	Fast scanning, large coverage	Overall poor to moderate	Overall high
PET using the tracer 18F-FDG	Integrated with CT, whole-body coverage	Overall poor	Reported to be very high; more studies needed
Bone scintigraphy	Only for detection of bone metastases	Unclear	Unclear
MRI	Versatile technique	Reported to be moderate; more studies needed	Reported to be very high; more studies needed
	Superior soft-tissue contrast

EUS: Endoscopic ultrasonography; CT: Computed tomography; MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging;

¹⁸F-FDG: ¹⁸F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose.