Bong-Il Song

Prognostic Value of Primary Tumor Uptake on F-18 FDG PET/CT in Patients with Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer

PurposeTo determine the prognostic implications of pretreatment F-18 FDG PET/CT in patients with invasive ductal breast cancer (IDC), we evaluated the relationship between FDG uptake of the primary tumor and known prognostic parameters of breast cancer. Prognostic significance of tumoral FDG uptake for the prediction of progression-free survival (PFS) was also assessed.Materials and MethodsFifty-five female patients with IDC who underwent pretreatment F-18 FDG PET/CT were enrolled. The maximum standardized uptake value of the primary tumor (pSUVmax) was compared with clinicopathological parameters including tumor size, grade, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor2 (HER2), axillary lymph node (LN) metastasis, and stage. The prognostic value of pSUVmax for PFS was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method.ResultsA high pSUVmax was significantly related to a higher stage of tumor size (P < 0.05), grade (P < 0.001), and stage (P < 0.001). pSUVmax was significantly higher in ER-negative tumors (P < 0.001), PR-negative tumors (P < 0.001), and positive LN metastasis (P < 0.01), but not different according to HER2 status. pSUVmax was significantly higher in patients with progression compared to patients who were disease-free (10.6 ± 5.1 vs. 4.7 ± 3.5, P < 0.001). A receiver-operating characteristic curve demonstrated a pSUVmax of 6.6 to be the optimal cutoff for predicting PFS (sensitivity; 86.7%, specificity; 82.5%). The patients with a high pSUVmax (more than 6.6) had significantly shorter PFS compared to patients with a low pSUVmax (P < 0.0001).ConclusionspSUVmax on pretreatment F-18 FDG PET/CT could be used as a good surrogate marker for the prediction of progression in patients with IDC.

Clinical applications of SPECT/CT after first I-131 ablation in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer

This study aimed to determine which thyroid cancer patients would benefit from SPECT/CT in addition to whole‐body planar scintigraphy (RxWBS) for the detection and characterization of I‐131 focal uptake after first ablation.

Preoperative Standardized Uptake Value of Metastatic Lymph Nodes Measured by 18F-FDG PET/CT Improves the Prediction of Prognosis in Gastric Cancer

AbstractThis study assessed whether preoperative maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) measured by 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) could improve the prediction of prognosis in gastric cancer.One hundred fifty-one patients with gastric cancer and pathologically confirmed LN involvement who had undergone preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT prior to curative surgical resection were retrospectively enrolled. To obtain nodal SUVmax, a transaxial image representing the highest 18F-FDG uptake was carefully selected, and a region of interest was manually drawn on the highest 18F-FDG accumulating LN. Conventional prognostic parameters and PET findings (primary tumor and nodal SUVmax) were analyzed for prediction of recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Furthermore, prognostic accuracy of survival models was assessed using c-statistics.Of the 151 patients, 38 (25%) experienced recurrence and 34 (23%) died during follow-up (median follow-up, 48 months; range, 5–74 months). Twenty-seven patients (18%) showed positive 18F-FDG nodal uptake (range, 2.0–22.6). In these 27 patients, a receiver-operating characteristic curve demonstrated a nodal SUVmax of 2.8 to be the optimal cutoff for predicting RFS and OS. The univariate and multivariate analyses showed that nodal SUVmax (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.71, P < 0.0001), pathologic N (pN) stage (HR = 2.58, P = 0.0058), and pathologic T (pT) stage (HR = 1.77, P = 0.0191) were independent prognostic factors for RFS. Also, nodal SUVmax (HR = 2.80, P < 0.0001) and pN stage (HR = 2.28, P = 0.0222) were independent prognostic factors for OS. A predictive survival model incorporating conventional risk factors (pT/pN stage) gave a c-statistic of 0.833 for RFS and 0.827 for OS, whereas a model combination of nodal SUVmax with pT/pN stage gave a c-statistic of 0.871 for RFS (P = 0.0355) and 0.877 for OS (P = 0.0313).Nodal SUVmax measured by preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT is an independent prognostic factor for RFS and OS. Combining nodal SUVmax with pT/pN staging can improve survival prediction precision in patients with gastric cancer.

Isolated facial muscle metastasis from renal cell carcinoma on F-18 FDG PET/CT.

Abstract: Facial muscle is a very rare site for distant metastasis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We present a 71-year-old man with isolated facial muscle metastasis 12 years after right nephrectomy for RCC. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a soft-tissue mass in the masticator space. F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography showed a large hypermetabolic lesion in the right masticator space without other hypermetabolic lesion in the whole body. Subsequent biopsy and histologic study confirmed metastatic cancer from RCC.

Diagnostic accuracy of 18F-FDG PET/CT for detecting synchronous advanced colorectal neoplasia in patients with gastric cancer.

AbstractPreoperative screening for synchronous colorectal neoplasia (CRN) has been recommended in patients with gastric cancer because patients with gastric cancer are at increased risk for synchronous CRN. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for detecting synchronous advanced CRN in patients with gastric cancer.A total of 256 patients who underwent colonoscopy and 18F-FDG PET/CT for preoperative staging were enrolled in this study. The diagnosis of focal colonic 18F-FDG uptake on 18F-FDG PET/CT image was made based on histopathologic results from the colonoscopic biopsy. The 18F-FDG PET/CT result was considered as true positive for advanced CRN when focal 18F-FDG uptake matched colorectal carcinoma or adenoma with high-grade dysplasia in the same location on colonoscopy.Synchronous advanced CRN was detected in 21 of the 256 patients (4.7%). Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 18F-FDG PET/CT were 76.2%, 96.2%, and 94.5%. The size of CRN with a true positive result was significantly larger than that with a false negative result.18F-FDG PET/CT demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for detecting synchronous advanced CRN in patients with gastric cancer. Colonoscopy is recommended as the next diagnostic step for further evaluation of a positive 18F-FDG PET/CT result in patients with gastric cancer.

Colon Visualization on 99mTc-HDP Whole-Body Bone Scan Due to Sigmoid Colon Cancer-Related Enterovesical Fistula

An abnormally increased uptake of the bone-seeking agent is rarely observed in structures other than the bone and urinary track on bone scintigraphy. The general etiologies of soft tissue uptake can be explained by heterotopic ossification or dystrophic and metastatic calcification. We report a case of serendipitous visualization of the entire colon on bone scintigraphy. Diffuse colonic uptake was detected on the whole-body bone scan in a patient with biopsy-proven sigmoid colon cancer. Additional imaging studies clearly showed direct bladder invasion of the sigmoid colon cancer. Imaging findings with a brief review of the literature are presented in this article.

Recent trends in nuclear cardiology practice.

Over the past three decades, radionuclide myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) has become established as the main functional cardiac imaging technique for ischemic heart disease. It is currently appropriate for all aspects of detecting and managing ischemic heart disease, including diagnosis, risk assessment and stratification, assessment of myocardial viability, and evaluation of left ventricular function. The purpose of this article was to review recent trends in nuclear cardiology practice, excluding positron emission tomography. The past few years have brought several rapid developments that have increased photon sensitivity in nuclear cardiology scanner hardware. Additionally, software applying new methods of single photon emission tomography (SPECT) reconstruction on conventional and dedicated systems has preserved or even improved SPECT image quality with lower count statistics. On the other hand, much interest has been shown in lowering the radiation dose by the stakeholders of MPS.

Clinical correlation of metabolic parameters on 18F-FDG PET/CT in idiopathic frozen shoulder

ObjectiveBecause positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) using fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) can be used to visualize inflammation of the musculoskeletal system, it may help elucidate the pathophysiology of frozen shoulder (FS). The purpose of this study was to characterize the uptake pattern on 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with idiopathic FS and to determine if there is a correlation between its metabolic parameters and clinical findings.Methods18F-FDG PET/CT was conducted to 35 patients with unilateral idiopathic FS. Clinical data including pain, functional scores, and passive range of motion (ROM) were collected. Maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) were measured at the four regions of interest (ROIs): rotator interval (RI), anterior joint capsule (AJC), axillary recess (AR), and posterior joint capsule (PJC) from the attenuation-corrected axial images.ResultsMean SUVmax values for four ROIs of the affected shoulder were significantly higher than those of the unaffected shoulder. Mean SUVmax values of RI and AR were significantly higher than those of AJC and PJC and mean SUVmax of AJC was significantly higher than that of PJC in the affected side. Three recognizable patterns of increased uptake were noted: (1) AR dominant type (15 patients); (2) RI dominant type (9 patients); (3) both RI and AR dominant type (11 patients). The SUVmax of AR showed negative correlation with abduction and forward flexion. The SUVmax of RI showed negative correlation with external rotation and internal rotation. The SUVmax of AJC showed negative correlation with all ROMs. However, there was no significant correlation between the SUVmax of PJC and any ROM.ConclusionOur study demonstrates that the anterior–inferior capsular portion, including RI and AR, is the main pathologic site of idiopathic FS and reveals significant correlations between ROM and metabolic parameters on 18F-FDG PET/CT. These results imply that AR and RI lesions are related to elevational limitations and rotational limitations, respectively.

Rituximab-induced pneumonitis on F-18 FDG PET/CT in patient with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Abstract:Pulmonary drug toxicity is increasingly being diagnosed as a cause of acute and chronic lung disease. We report a case of drug-induced pneumonitis after R-CHOP therapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma in which a follow-up examination F-18 FDG PET/CT showed some patchy consolidations and ground-glas