Marie-Elisabeth Toubert

18F-FDG PET/CT in Staging Patients with Locally Advanced or Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Comparison to Conventional Staging

The prognosis of patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) remains poor. We prospectively investigated the impact of 18F-FDG PET/CT at initial staging in this clinical setting and compared PET/CT performance with that of conventional distant work-up. Methods: During 60 mo, consecutive patients with LABC (clinical T4 or N2–N3 disease) underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT. The yield was assessed in the whole group and separately for noninflammatory and inflammatory cancer. The performance of PET/CT was compared with that of a conventional staging approach including bone scanning, chest radiography, or dedicated CT and abdominopelvic sonography or contrast-enhanced CT. Results: 117 patients with inflammatory (n = 35) or noninflammatory (n = 82) LABC were included. 18F-FDG PET/CT confirmed N3 nodal involvement in stage IIIC patients and revealed unsuspected N3 nodes (infraclavicular, supraclavicular, or internal mammary) in 32 additional patients. Distant metastases were visualized on PET/CT in 43 patients (46% of patients with inflammatory carcinoma and 33% of those with noninflammatory LABC). Overall, 18F-FDG PET/CT changed the clinical stage in 61 patients (52%). Unguided conventional imaging detected metastases in only 28 of the 43 patients classified M1 with PET/CT (65%). 18F-FDG PET/CT outperformed conventional imaging for bone metastases, distant lymph nodes, and liver metastases, whereas CT was more sensitive for lung metastases. The accuracy in diagnosing bone lesions was 89.7% for planar bone scanning versus 98.3% for 18F-FDG PET/CT. The accuracy in diagnosing lung metastases was 98.3% for dedicated CT versus 97.4% for 18F-FDG PET/CT. Conclusion: 18F-FDG PET/CT had the advantage of allowing chest, abdomen and bone to be examined in a single session. Almost all distant lesions detected by conventional imaging were depicted with PET/CT, which also showed additional lesions.

Role of SPECT/CT in sentinel lymph node detection in patients with breast cancer.

Aim The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the published literature to assess the role (indications, advantages, and limitations) of SPECT/CT for the detection of sentinel lymph node (SLN) in breast cancer. Methods The authors searched PubMed for published literature in English addressing this topic. Results Eleven studies, published since 2006, focused on the role and value of SPECT/CT for SLN detection (SLND). They showed that SPECT/CT improved sentinel node detection and anatomical localization. One study suggested that SPECT/CT may provide a more accurate staging. Limitations for SLND with SPECT/CT include extra time and inconvenience for the patient and additional radiation dose. Conclusions SPECT/CT is a valuable tool for SLND, especially in difficult cases, when planar lymphoscintigraphy shows no SLN or unexpected lymphatic drainage.

18F-FDG-PET/CT in staging, restaging, and treatment response assessment of male breast cancer

PURPOSE Male breast cancer (BC) is a rare disease, with patterns different from those found in women. Most tumors are detected at more advanced stages than in women. The aim of this study was to analyze the performance of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)F-FDG-PET/CT) in staging, restaging, and therapy response assessment. METHODS We performed a systematic analysis in the database of Saint-Louis Hospital to identify male patients with BC referred for PET/CT. (18)F-FDG-PET/CT findings considered suspicious for malignancy were compared to biopsy results, further work-up and/or patient follow-up of at least 6 months. Performances of (18)F-FDG-PET/CT were compared to that of conventional imaging (CI) using the McNemar test. The impact of PET/CT on management was evaluated. RESULTS During 6 consecutive years, among 12,692 (18)F-FDG-PET/CT oncology studies, 30 were performed in 15 men with BC: 7 examinations for initial staging, 11 for restaging, and 12 for response assessment. Tumors profile was ER+ and one had HER2 overexpression. PET/CT sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy to detect distant metastases were 100%, 67%, 86%, 100% and 89%, respectively. PET/CT was more informative than CI in 40% of studies (p=0.03; 95% confidence interval: 3.26 - 40%). Findings from (18)F-FDG-PET/CT led to modification in the planned treatment in 13/30 cases (43%). CONCLUSION Although all the tumors were ER+, primary lesions and metastases were diagnosed with high sensitivity. (18)F-FDG-PET/CT seems to be a powerful imaging method to perform staging, restaging and treatment response assessment in male patients with BC.

Radioactive iodine therapy, molecular imaging and serum biomarkers for differentiated thyroid cancer: 2017 guidelines of the French Societies of Nuclear Medicine, Endocrinology, Pathology, Biology, Endocrine Surgery and Head and Neck Surgery

Slimane Zerdoud a, Anne-Laure Giraudet b, Sophie Leboulleux c, Laurence Leenhardt d, Stéphane Bardet e, Jérôme Clerc f, Marie-Elisabeth Toubert g, Abir Al Ghuzlan h, Pierre-Jean Lamy i,j, Claire Bournaud k, Isabelle Keller l, Frédéric Sebag m, Renaud Garrel n, Eric Mirallié o, Lionel Groussin p, Elif Hindié q,∗, David Taïeb r,∗ a Service de médecine nucléaire, institut universitaire du cancer Toulouse oncopole, 1, avenue Irène-Joliot-Curie, 31059 Toulouse cedex 9, France b Médecine nucleaire, centre LUMEN, curiethérapie, thyroïde, tumeurs endocrines, centre de lutte contre le cancer Léon-Berard, 28, rue Laennec, 69008 Lyon, France c Service de médecine nucléaire et cancérologie endocrinienne Gustave-Roussy, université Paris Saclay, 114, rue Edouard-Vaillant, 94805 Villejuif, France d Unité thyroïde tumeurs endocrines, institut E3M, hôpital La Pitié-Salpêtrière, 83, boulevard de l’Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France e Service de médecine nucléaire et UCP thyroïde, centre François-Baclesse, 3, avenue Général-Harris, 14076 Caen cedex 05, France f Service de médecine nucléaire, groupe hospitalier Paris Centre, AP–HP, 27, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Jacques, 75679 Paris cedex 14, France g Service de médecine nucléaire, hôpital Saint-Louis, AP–HP, 1, avenue Claude-Vellefaux, 75475 Paris cedex 10, France h Département de biologie et de pathologie médicales Gustave-Roussy, 39, rue Camille-Desmoulins, 94805 Villejuif, France i Laboratoire d’oncologie moléculaire, institut médical d’analyse génomique, Labosud, 141, avenue Paul-Bringuier, 34080 Montpellier, France j Unité de recherche clinique, clinique Beau-Soleil, 119, avenue de Lodeve, 34070 Montpellier, France k Service de médecine nucléaire, hospices civils de Lyon, groupement hospitalier Est, 28, avenue Doyen-Lépine, 69677 Bron cedex, France l Service de médecine nucléaire, hôpitaux universitaires Est Parisien, hôpital Saint-Antoine, AP–HP, 184, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine, 75012 Paris, France m Service de chirurgie endocrinienne, université Aix-Marseille, CHU de la Timone, 264, rue Saint-Pierre, 13005 Marseille, France n Département ORL et chirurgie cervico faciale, pole neuroscience tête et cou, hôpital Gui-de-Chauliac, CHU de Montpellier, 80, rue Fliche, 34295 Montpellier, France o Service de chirurgie endocrinienne et digestive, CHU de Nantes, 1, place Alexis-Ricordeau, 44093 Nantes, France p Service d’endocrinologie et maladies métaboliques, hôpital Cochin, AP–HP, 123, boulevard du Port-Royal, 75014 Paris, France q Service de médecine nucléaire, hôpital Haut-Lévêque, université de Bordeaux, CHU de Bordeaux, avenue Magellan, 33604 Pessac, France r Service central de biophysique et de médecine nucléaire, université Aix-Marseille, CHU de la Timone, 264, rue Saint-Pierre, 13005 Marseille cedex 05, France

Additional diagnostic value of hybrid SPECT-CT systems imaging in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer.

Aim:Nuclear medicine has entered a new era of multimodality imaging. Single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) hybrid cameras are relatively new diagnostic tools that have been widely adopted and are present in most nuclear medicine units. SPECT/CT instruments allow functional and morphologic images to be acquired as superimposed (fusion images) in a single session. Methods:The integration of CT enables better characterization of functional abnormalities identified on planar and SPECT scintigraphy by offering structural information. It thus highly improves accuracy compared with conventional scintigraphy. Results and Conclusions:The combination of functional information and anatomic localization has the potential to influence medical practice with newer imaging algorithms. This review presents the current evidence and potential indications of SPECT/CT imaging in the initial staging, treatment, and follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer.

Nuclear Medicine in Early-Stage Melanoma: Sentinel Node Biopsy—FDG-PET/CT

Sentinel node status is the most powerful prognostic factor in patients with early-stage melanoma. This review discusses several issues of clinical interest and technical points for an optimized sentinel node biopsy (SNB) procedure. The role of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography is clearly established in patients with suspicion of locoregional or distant recurrence of melanoma before any surgical decision. However, its role at initial staging or follow-up of patients with localized disease or with positive SNB is less clear. Further research and efforts should focus on identifying which groups of patients are at specific high risk of early distant recurrence.

Impact on testicular function of a single ablative activity of 3.7 GBq radioactive iodine for differentiated thyroid carcinoma

STUDY QUESTION What are the consequences of radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy for testicular function? SUMMARY ANSWER A single activity of 3.7 GBq RAI for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) treatment in young men transiently altered Sertoli cell function and induced sperm chromosomal abnormalities. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Few studies, mainly retrospective, have reported the potential impacts of RAI on endocrine and exocrine testicular function. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A longitudinal prospective multi-center study on testicular function performed in DTC patients before a single 131I ablative activity of 3.7 GBq (V0) and at 3 months (V3) and 13 months (V13) after treatment. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Forty male patients, aged 18-55 years, with DTC participated. Hormonal analysis included FSH, LH, testosterone and inhibin B serum levels at V0, V3 and V13. Furthermore, sperm parameters, DNA fragmentation and sperm chromosomal abnormalities were evaluated at each time points. The differences in all parameters, between V0-V3, V0-V13 and V3-V13, were analyzed, using a Wilcoxon test. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Prior to RAI administration, all patients had normal gonadal function. At V3, a statistically significant increase in FSH levels and a decrease in inhibin B levels were observed and sperm concentration, as well as the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa, were significantly decreased (P < 0.0001). These modifications were transient as both sperm concentration and normal morphology rate returned to baseline values at V13. However, at this later time point, FSH and inhibin B levels were still impacted by RAI administration but remained in the normal range. Although no DNA fragmentation was observed at V3 nor V13, our study revealed a statistically significant increase in the number of sperm chromosomal abnormalities both at V3 (P < 0.001) and V13 (P = 0.01). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Among the 40 patients included in the study, only 24 had all the parameters available at all visits. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Prospective studies with longer term follow up would be helpful to determine whether the chromosome abnormalities persist. These studies would be required before sperm banking should be suggested for all patients. However, sperm preservation for DTC patients who require cumulative radioiodine activities higher than 3.7 GBq should be proposed. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was supported by the Programme Hospitalier de Recherche Clinique, AP-HP (No. P040419). The authors report no conflict of interest in this work. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT01150318.