SUV in Colon Cancer: Understanding Standardized Uptake Value on PET-CT

SUV (standardized uptake value) quantifies metabolic activity on PET-CT using FDG tracer. Key metrics:

• SUVmax: Maximum uptake in tumor; higher values suggest aggressive disease.
• SUVmean: Average uptake in region of interest; reflects overall tumor metabolism.
• SUVpeak: Highest uptake in a small ROI; shows metabolic heterogeneity.

Serial SUV changes monitor progression (rising SUV) or treatment response (falling SUV). SUV values must be interpreted alongside clinical, imaging, and lab data.