18F-FDG-PET SUV AS A PROGNOSTIC MARKER OF INCREASING SIZE IN THYROID CANCER TUMORS. - 2017

ABBREVIATIONS: DTC = differentiated thyroid cancer EORTC = European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer 18F-FDG = 2-[fluorine-18] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose FNA = fine-needle aspiration MTC = medullary thyroid cancer PET/CT = positron emission tomography/computed tomography PVE = partial volume effect RAI = radioactive iodine SUV = standardized uptake value Tg = thyroglobulin TSH = thyroid-stimulating hormone. CONCLUSIONS: A significant positive correlation was noted between the increase in lesional SUV and subsequent increase in lesion area. An increase in lesional SUV in subsequent scans may portend tumor growth and could prompt consideration for earlier or more aggressive intervention. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients with histologically confirmed thyroid cancer who were monitored with serial 18F-FDG-PET/CT scans from 2008 to 2013 was performed. Forty-seven patients were selected for analysis. A mixed-effects statistical model was used after data normalization. OBJECTIVE: Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scans with 2-[fluorine-18] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18F-FDG) are used in high-risk thyroid cancer patients to identify metastasis. The prognostic significance of increases in standardized uptake values (SUVs) has not been clearly defined. This pilot study investigated the correlation between SUV increases and subsequent changes in individual lesion size. RESULTS: For a 10% increase in SUV, a 6% increase in tumor area was observed (P<.0001). Analysis on cube root-transformed data from serial scans was significant in 4 of 5 groups: scans 1 to 2 (P = .0001), scans 2 to 3 (P = .0005), scans 3 to 4 (P = .008), scans 4 to 5 (P = .66), and overall (P<.0001). After exclusion of outliers, for a 10% increase in SUV, the expected percentage increases in area on subsequent scans were found to be 3.4% (P = .0006), 2.6% (P = .005), 4% (P = .074), and 4.1% (P = .27) for the second, third, fourth, and fifth scans, respectively. The association was similarly significant in cases with a >=25% increase in SUV. Secondary analysis showed a significant association of SUV with thyroglobulin (Tg) level (P = .035) but not with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level (P = .85).


English

1530-891X


*Positron-Emission Tomography/mt [Methods]
*Thyroid Neoplasms/dg [Diagnostic Imaging]
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biomarkers, Tumor
Disease Progression
Female
Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Metastasis
Pilot Projects
Prognosis
Radiopharmaceuticals
Retrospective Studies
Thyroglobulin/bl [Blood]
Thyroid Neoplasms/pa [Pathology]
Whole Body Imaging


MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute
MedStar Washington Hospital Center
MedStar Washington Hospital Center


Medicine/Endocrinology
Medicine/Nuclear Medicine


Journal Article