H. Wu et al., Quantitative evaluation of skeletal tumours with dynamic FDG PET: SUV in comparison to Patlak analysis, EUR J NUCL, 28(6), 2001, pp. 704-710
Citations number
35
Categorie Soggetti
Radiology ,Nuclear Medicine & Imaging","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
This study was carried out to evaluate bone lesions using fluorine-18 fluor
odeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) and to explore whether
dynamic and quantitative PET data may help to differentiate benign lesions
from malignant masses, Forty patients with primary bone lesions were studi
ed. The final diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology. A 60-min dynamic F
DG PET acquisition was undertaken in all subjects. From the dynamic PET ima
ges, indices such as the average and maximal standardised uptake values (SU
Vs), the tumour SUV-to-muscle SUV ratio (T/M) and the SUV at 60 min-to-SUV
at 30 min ratio (averSUV60/30 min and maxSUV60/30 min) were produced. Patla
k graphical analysis was used to obtain the influx constant (K,), and the m
etabolic rate of FDG (MRFDG) was calculated. Based on the receiver operator
characteristic curve, the sensitivity and specificity for each parameter i
n differentiating between malignant and benign lesions were evaluated, The
histological results revealed 21 malignant tumours and 19 benign lesions in
this group. The MRFDG and SUV indices in malignant lesions were significan
tly higher than those in benign lesions. However, each index showed a consi
derable overlap between benign and malignant lesions. Average SUV correlate
d positively with MRFDG (r=0.67). When a cut-off of 1.8 average SUV was use
d, the sensitivity and specificity for discrimination of malignancy from be
nign disease were 85% and 82.4%, respectively. MRFDG showed a similar sensi
tivity (82.4%) and a better specificity (92.9%), A combination consisting o
f a cut-off of average SUV (1.8) and averSUV60/30 min(1.1)resulted in an im
provement of specificity to 93.3%, with a small reduction in sensitivity (8
1.3%) as compared with exclusive use of SUV, The results of this study indi
cate that a detectable difference in glucose metabolism exists between mali
gnant and benign skeletal lesions. The static FDG uptake indices alone may
not enable adequate differentiation between benign and malignant lesions. Q
uantitative dynamic imaging may provide more helpful information, but will
not permit a definite diagnosis. The use of uptake indices may represent an
alternative and interesting approach to the evaluation of bone lesions.