Chin-Chuan Chang

SUV on dual-phase FDG PET/CT correlates with the Ki-67 proliferation index in patients with newly diagnosed non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Purpose PET using 18F-FDG integrated with CT is beneficial for staging patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The Ki-67 index is used to assess the proliferation potential of tumor cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation of the Ki-67 index in tissue samples with the SUV at different sites on dual-phase FDG PET/CT of patients with newly diagnosed NHL. Materials and Methods From September 2009 to March 2011, patients with newly diagnosed NHL who had received dual-phase FDG PET/CT for staging and biopsy samples that were evaluated for the Ki-67 expression were enrolled. The SUVmax of the biopsy site, the tumorous lesion sites, and 3 different bone marrow sites (right iliac crest, sternum, and L1) were measured. The SUVmean of the liver and spleen were also measured. Results There were a total of 27 patients in this study. Significant correlations were observed between the Ki-67 index and the SUVmax of the right iliac crest in patients with early-stage disease (stage I and II) patients, the SUVmax of the biopsy and whole-body lesion sites in patients with late-stage disease (stage III and IV), and the retention index of SUVmax of the right iliac crest in patients whose bone marrow were involved by lymphoma cells. Conclusions For patients with newly diagnosed NHL, the significant correlation between the Ki-67 index and the SUV in this study suggests that dual-phase FDG PET/CT may be used as a noninvasive measurement of tumor proliferation.

Utilization of 18F-FDG PET/CT as a staging tool in patients with newly diagnosed lymphoma

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of 2‐fluorine‐18‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose (18F‐FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in the initial staging and prediction of bone marrow involvement in patients with newly diagnosed lymphoma. A total of 185 patients with newly diagnosed lymphoma were enrolled. All patients received PET/CT and bone marrow biopsy as part of a staging work‐up. At the initial staging, 17 patients (9.2%) with occult nodal or extranodal lesions were upstaged after a review of the PET/CT studies. PET/CT was found to be useful in the differentiation of aggressive lymphoma subtypes from the indolent subtype based on higher standardized uptake value (SUV) (16.67 vs. 7.98, p < 0.001). The results of bone marrow biopsy and PET/CT in the detection of bone marrow involvement were concordant in 152 patients (82.1%); positive concordance was observed in 21 patients, and negative concordance was observed in 131 patients. A high concordance rate was found between aggressive B cell lymphoma and Hodgkins lymphoma (88.1% and 93.8%, respectively). High negative predictive values (NPVs) for excluding bone marrow involvement were observed in aggressive B‐cell lymphoma (93.2%) and Hodgkins lymphoma (100%). Diffuse bone marrow FDG uptake accurately predicted bone marrow in aggressive B‐cell lymphoma with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 100%. The concordance rate was lower in indolent B‐cell lymphoma (66.0%). In conclusion, PET/CT resulted in the upstaging of patients with occult extranodal or nodal lesions. A high SUV level can predict aggressive subtype of lymphoma and detect aggressive components in indolent lymphoma. PET/CT had a high PPV for aggressive B‐cell lymphoma with diffuse bone marrow FDG uptake and high NPVs for excluding bone marrow involvement in aggressive B‐cell lymphoma and Hodgkins lymphoma. Bone marrow biopsy may be omitted for the above subgroups of patients with medical conditions not suitable for this procedure. For patients with indolent B‐cell lymphoma, bone marrow biopsy is still an indispensable procedure for staging.

Tumour and lymph node uptakes on dual-phased 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography correlate with prognostic parameters in breast cancer.

Objectives To examine correlations between the uptake of 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) by primary tumours and axillary lymph nodes, and clinical and biological tumour prognostic parameters, in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Methods Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients who had received a dual-phased FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan for pretreatment staging were enrolled retrospectively. Maximal standardized uptake values at 1 h (SUV1), 2 h (SUV2), and retention indices (RI) of the tumours and ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes were measured. SUV and RI were compared with clinical and biological prognostic parameters. Results A total of 32 patients participated in the study. Tumour FDG uptake correlated with histological grade and tumour size. FDG uptake in axillary lymph nodes correlated positively with lymph node status, metastasis status and clinical stage. RI values for the tumour and lymph nodes were significantly positively correlated with human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 positivity. Conclusions FDG uptake in tumours and lymph nodes showed correlations with some clinical and biological parameters, and may serve as a predictive marker of tumour biological behaviour in breast cancer.

Bone metastasis versus bone marrow metastasis? Integration of diagnosis by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission/computed tomography in advanced malignancy with super bone scan: Two case reports and literature review

Super scan pattern on technetium‐99m methyldiphosphonate (Tc‐99m MDP) bone scintigraphy is a special condition of extremely high bone uptake relative to soft tissue with absent or faint renal radioactivity visualization, which is usually seen in diffuse bone metastases or discrete endocrine entities. Here, two cases with super bone scan are presented. One was a young man diagnosed with gastric cancer. The other was a middle‐aged woman with a history of breast cancer with recent recurrence. Both cases had 18‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F‐FDG PET/CT) diagnosis simultaneously. Based on imaging of 18F‐FDG PET/CT, diffusely incremental 18F‐FDG avidity in spine/pelvis on PET and subtle erosion of cortical bone on CT were seen. The cytological results of bone marrow biopsy showed evidence of malignant metastasis. However, there were several focal discrepant findings between the 18F‐FDG PET/CT and Tc‐99m MDP bone scan. According to integration of both imaging findings and the result of bone marrow biopsy, we believe that the disseminated malignant spread in bone marrow is a primitive alternation in the super bone scan and that it is also as a result of neoplasm‐related endocrine factors.

Prognostic significance of total metabolic tumor volume on 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/ computed tomography in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma receiving rituximab-containing chemotherapy

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of metabolic parameters on pre-treatment 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/ computed tomography (FDG PET/CT), in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) receiving rituximab-containing therapy. Materials and Methods From September 2009 to December 2014, DLBCL patients who had received FDG PET/CT scans for staging were enrolled. The maximal standardized uptake value of tumor (SUVt) was recorded. The metabolic tumor volume (MTV) was the volume of lesion with an elevated SUV greater than 2.5. The total lesion glycolysis (TLG) was the sum of the products of MTV and mean SUV in all measured lesions. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the prognostic significance of maximal SUVt, total MTV, TLG and other clinical parameters. Results There were 118 patients enrolled in this study. The median follow-up time was 28.7 months. The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) for patients with higher and lower total MTV was 32.3% and 66.0% respectively (p = 0.0001). The 5-year overall survival (OS) for patients with higher and lower total MTV was 34.3% and 69.9% respectively (p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed, besides IPI, that total MTV was independently predictive for PFS (HR: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.16 – 4.60, p = 0.0180) and OS (HR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.12 – 5.04, p = 0.024). TLG and maximal SUV of tumor were not independent prognostic factors. Conclusions An elevated total MTV was a predictor for shorter PFS and OS in patients with DLBCL receiving rituximab-containing therapy, independent of IPI.

The characteristics of FDG PET/CT imaging in pulmonary Langerhans cell sarcoma.

A 53-year-old man, who was a heavy smoker, presented with recent severe cough. Radiography demonstrated a large pulmonary mass in the right upper lung. FDG PET/CT demonstrated heterogeneous high-grade activity in the pulmonary mass located in the right upper lung (standardized uptake value of 20), with central necrosis, bilateral upper mediastinal lymphadenopathy, right supraclavicular lymphadenopathy, direct left sternal manubrium invasion, and distal bilateral peripheral lung metastasis. Histology revealed significant malignant cytologic features and CD1a- and S-100-positive cells by immunohistochemistry staining, typical for Langerhans cell sarcoma.

Localized autoimmune pancreatitis mimicking pancreatic cancer: Case report and literature review:

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AP) is a rare autoimmune pancreatic manifestation of systemic immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related sclerosing disease. Distinguishing between AP and pancreatic cancer is crucial because the clinical courses, treatments, and prognoses of these two disease entities are quite different. We herein report a case involving a 52-year-old man with subacute epigastralgia who visited our hospital for evaluation of a suspicious pancreatic mass found during esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed an enlarged lesion in the pancreatic head with encasement of hepatic vessels. The lesion also exhibited increased 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation on positron emission tomography/CT imaging, which was highly suggestive of pancreatic cancer. After open biopsy, morphologic examination showed an inflammatory infiltrate in the pancreas, which was compatible with chronic sclerotic pancreatitis. Further laboratory tests revealed an elevated serum IgG4 level, and the diagnosis of sclerotic pancreatitis was then confirmed. After corticosteroid treatment, the pancreatic lesion showed shrinkage on follow-up CT, and the serum IgG4 titer decreased to the normal range. This case suggests that clinicians should be familiar with the clinical presentations and diagnostic criteria of AP versus pancreatic cancer. An awareness of the differences between these diseases may avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary surgical intervention.

Bone Scan-Like Appearance on the FDG PET/CT Image: A Patient with Primary Bone Marrow Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

A 68-year-old woman presented with fever and pancytopenia. Conventional imaging surveys including gallium scan failed to identify the possible inflammatory or neoplastic foci. Bone marrow biopsy was performed for further survey and the pathological result showed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with suspicion of primary bone marrow type. A following FDG PET/CT scan revealed a striking disseminated FDG uptake in whole-body bone marrow and the increased FDG accumulation in the spleen. The ＂bone scan-like＂ appearance on the FDG PET/CT scan helped to confirm the diagnosis as primary bone marrow lymphoma with probable spleen involvement, the bone marrow, liver and/or spleen (BLS) type.