TY - JOUR
T1 - Positron emission tomography scanning in the evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma
AU - Khan, M. Akram
AU - Combs, Connie S.
AU - Brunt, Elizabeth M.
AU - Lowe, Val J.
AU - Wolverson, Michael K.
AU - Solomon, Harvey
AU - Collins, Brian T.
AU - Di Bisceglie, Adrian M.
PY - 2000/5
Y1 - 2000/5
N2 - Background/Aims: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake allows estimation of glucose metabolism by tumor cells using positron emission tomography (PET). We evaluated the role of PET imaging in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: PET images were collected after intravenous injection of 8-12 mCi of 18F-FDG in 20 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). PET tumor activity level was assessed on a scale of 1 to 4 compared to normal liver tissue. The PET score was compared with abdominal computerized tomography (CT) scan results and between tumors of different grades and differentiation. Results: Of the 20 patients studied, 11 (55%) had positive PET scans (PET score: 3 or 4) while nine (45%) were negative (PET score: 1 or 2). CT scan was positive in 18 patients (90%) and negative in two (10%). PET, however, revealed metastases in three patients that were not seen on CT. On pathological review, well-differentiated and low-grade tumors had lower PET scores. Comparison of the well-differentiated with the moderately- and poorly-differentiated tumors revealed a statistically significant difference. No statistical significance was observed between the moderately- and poorly- differentiated tumors or between different tumor grades and PET scores. Conclusions: The sensitivity of PET in diagnosis of HCC was 55% compared to 90% for CT scanning, although only PET detected some tumors (including distant metastases). Well-differentiated and low tumor grades had lower activity on PET and correspondingly lower PET scores. PET imaging may help assess tumor differentiation and may be useful in the diagnosis and staging and prognostication of HCC as an adjunct to CT.
AB - Background/Aims: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake allows estimation of glucose metabolism by tumor cells using positron emission tomography (PET). We evaluated the role of PET imaging in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: PET images were collected after intravenous injection of 8-12 mCi of 18F-FDG in 20 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). PET tumor activity level was assessed on a scale of 1 to 4 compared to normal liver tissue. The PET score was compared with abdominal computerized tomography (CT) scan results and between tumors of different grades and differentiation. Results: Of the 20 patients studied, 11 (55%) had positive PET scans (PET score: 3 or 4) while nine (45%) were negative (PET score: 1 or 2). CT scan was positive in 18 patients (90%) and negative in two (10%). PET, however, revealed metastases in three patients that were not seen on CT. On pathological review, well-differentiated and low-grade tumors had lower PET scores. Comparison of the well-differentiated with the moderately- and poorly-differentiated tumors revealed a statistically significant difference. No statistical significance was observed between the moderately- and poorly- differentiated tumors or between different tumor grades and PET scores. Conclusions: The sensitivity of PET in diagnosis of HCC was 55% compared to 90% for CT scanning, although only PET detected some tumors (including distant metastases). Well-differentiated and low tumor grades had lower activity on PET and correspondingly lower PET scores. PET imaging may help assess tumor differentiation and may be useful in the diagnosis and staging and prognostication of HCC as an adjunct to CT.
KW - CT Scan
KW - HCC
KW - Liver and tumor differentiation
KW - PET
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034065863&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0168-8278(00)80248-2
DO - 10.1016/S0168-8278(00)80248-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 10845666
AN - SCOPUS:0034065863
SN - 0168-8278
VL - 32
SP - 792
EP - 797
JO - Journal of Hepatology
JF - Journal of Hepatology
IS - 5
ER -