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Whole-body positron emission tomography using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose for posttreatment evaluation in Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has higher diagnostic and prognostic value than classical computed tomography scan imaging.

A residual mass after treatment of lymphoma is a clinical challenge, because it may represent vital tumor as well as tissue fibrosis. Metabolic imaging by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) offers the advantage of functional tissue characterization that is largely independent of morphologic criteria. We compared 18F-FDG PET to computed tomography (CT) in the posttreatment evaluation of 54 patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) or intermediate/high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Residual masses on CT were observed in 13 of 19 patients with HD and 11 of 35 patients with NHL. Five of 24 patients with residual masses on CT versus 1 of 30 patients without residual masses presented a positive 18F-FDG PET study. Relapse occurred in all 6 patients (100%) with a positive 18F-FDG PET, 5 of 19 patients (26%) with residual masses on CT but negative 18F-FDG PET, and 3 of 29 patients (10%) with negative CT scan and 18F-FDG PET studies (P </=.0001). We observed a higher relapse and death rate in patients with residual masses at CT compared with patients without residual masses at CT (progression-free survival at 1 year: 62 +/- 10 v 88 +/- 7%, P =. 0045; overall survival at 1 year: 77 +/- 5 v 95 +/- 5%, P =.0038). A positive 18F-FDG PET study was even more consistently associated with poorer survival: compared with patients with a negative 18F-FDG PET study, the 1-year progression-free survival was 0% versus 86% +/- 5% (P <.0001) and the 1-year overall survival was 50% +/- 20% versus 92% +/- 4% (P <.0001). The detection of vital tumor by 18F-FDG PET after the end of treatment has a higher predictive value for relapse than classical CT scan imaging (positive predictive value: 100% v 42%). This could help identify patients requiring intensification immediately after completion of chemotherapy. However, 18F-FDG PET mainly predicts for early progression but cannot exclude the presence of minimal residual disease, possibly leading to a later relapse.

Adolescent↗

Comparison of helical computerized tomography, positron emission tomography and monoclonal antibody scans for evaluation of lymph node metastases in patients with prostate specific antigen relapse after treatment for localized prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: We compare the detection of metastatic disease by helical computerized tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET) with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose and monoclonal antibody scan with 111indium capromab pendetide in patients with an elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA) after treatment for localized prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 45 patients with an elevated PSA (median 3.8 ng./ml.) were studied following definitive local therapy with radical prostatectomy in 33, radiation therapy in 9 and cryosurgery in 3. CT of the abdomen and pelvis, and whole body PET were performed in all patients, of whom 21 also underwent monoclonal antibody scan. Lymph nodes 1 cm. in diameter or greater on CT were considered abnormal and were sampled by fine needle aspiration in 12 patients. RESULTS: PET and CT were positive for distant disease in 50% of 22 patients with PSA greater than 4, and in 4 and 17%, respectively, of 23 with PSA less than 4 ng./ml. The detection rate for metastatic disease was similar for CT and PET, and higher overall than that for monoclonal antibody scan. Monoclonal antibody scan was true positive in only 1 of 6 patients, while PET was true positive in 6 of 9 with CT guided fine needle aspiration proved metastases. CONCLUSIONS: CT and PET each detected evidence of metastatic disease in 50% of all patients with a high PSA or PSA velocity (greater than 4 ng./ml. or greater than 0.2 ng./ml. per month, respectively). Both techniques are limited for detecting metastatic disease in patients with a low PSA or PSA velocity. Our data suggest that monoclonal antibody scan has a lower detection rate than CT or PET.

Aged↗

Technetium-99m methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile chest single photon emission computed tomography to detect mediastinal lymph node metastasis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: comparison with computed tomography.

This study evaluated the clinical role of Tc-99m-methoxyisobtylisonitrile (Tc-MIBI) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of the chest in the detection of mediastinal lymph node (MLN) metastasis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Twenty-five patients with proven NSCLC were enrolled in this study. Each of the patients received computed tomography (CT) of the chest and Tc-MIBI SPECT of the chest for presurgical staging. A postsurgical pathologic diagnosis was made and these patients were evaluated for the study of mediastinal lymph nde (MLN) involvement. Meanwhile, 10 volunteers also accepted Tc-MIBI SPECT of the chest for comparison. The results showed that the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of Tc-MIBI chest SPECT were 81.8%, 85.7% and 84% and for chest CT they are 36.3%, 85.7% and 64%, respectively. Our results indicated that Tc-MIBI chest SPECT was more sensitive and accurate than chest CT in the evaluation and detection of MLN involvement in the NSCLC patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Detection of cervical lymph node metastases of nasopharyngeal carcinomas with technetium-99m tetrofosmin single photon emission computed tomography and comparison with computed tomography.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of technetium-99m tetrofosmin (Tc-99m TF) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in the detection of cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC), and to compare Tc-99m TF SPECT results with computed tomography (CT) findings. Fifty patients with biopsy-proven NPC and suspected cervical LN metastases underwent head and neck Tc-99m TF SPECT and CT to detect cervical LN metastases. Cervical LN metastases of 40 patients were confirmed by histopathological examination of biopsy samples. For 22 LN lesions with discordant results between Tc-99m TF SPECT and CT, Tc-99m TF SPECT could correctly detect 4 metastatic and 7 benign LN lesions while CT could correctly detect 5 metastatic and 6 benign LN lesions. Agreement positive results of Tc-99m TF SPECT and CT could correctly detect all of the 18 metastatic LN lesions. Tc-99m TF SPECT has a better specificity but a lower sensitivity for detecting cervical LN metastases in NPC when compared with CT. The combined use of Tc-99m TF SPECT and CT could significantly increase the accuracy of detect cervical LN metastases in NPC compared with the single use of either Tc-99m TF SPECT or CT.

Adult↗

Detection of cervical lymph node metastases in nasopharyngeal carcinomas: comparison between technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile single photon emission computed tomography and computed tomography.

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (Tc-99m MIBI) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and computed tomography (CT) of head and neck in evaluating cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC). Fifty NPC patients with suspected cervical LN metastases underwent Tc-99m MIBI SPECT and CT of the head and neck to evaluate cervical LN metastases. Among the 50 patient.s cervical LN lesion were confirmed by biopsy histopathological results in 40 patients. For 22 LN lesions with discordant results between Tc-99m MIBI SPECT and CT Tc-99m MIBI SPECT could correctly detect 5 metastatic and 7 benign LN lesions, while could correctly detect 5 metastatic and 6 benign LN lesions. Tc-99m MIBI SPECT and CT could correctly detect all of the 18 metastatic LN lesions. Tc-99m MIBI SPECT showed a better specificity but a lower sensitivity for detecting cervical LN metastases in NPC when compared with CT. The combined use of Tc-99m MIBI SPECT and CT could increase the accuracy, compared with the single use of either Tc-99m MIBI SPECT or CT, to detect cervical LN metastases in NPC.

Adult↗

Clinical analysis of myocardial perfusion and metabolism in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by single photon emission tomography and positron emission tomography.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Changes in myocardial energy metabolism and their relation to coronary flow reserve in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were assessed by myocardial fatty acid imaging with iodine-123 beta-methyliodophenyl pentadecanoic acid single photon emission tomography (123I-BMIPP SPECT) (fasting), glucose imaging with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) (fasting), and perfusion imaging with nitrogen-13 (13N)-ammonia PET (dipyridamole-stress and at rest) in adult patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and with asymmetric septal hypertrophy. RESULTS: 123I-BMIPP defects mismatched with thallium-201 (201Tl) uptake were often observed in the hypertrophic septal regions indicating reduced fatty acid utilization incidence of 59% (22/37). 18F-FDG images showed diffusely increased uptake in most of the patients (73%, 27/37), but showed regionally increased 18F-FDG uptake at the septal regions in only two patients. Study of 18 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with the mismatched 123I-BMIPP defects found that the severity of the defects correlated with reduced coronary flow reserve determined by the 13N-ammonia PET study. On the other hand, changes in 18F-FDG images were not related to those in coronary flow reserve. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the mismatched 123I-BMIPP defects, which indicate abnormality in myocardial fatty acid metabolism, occur under reduced coronary flow reserve, and may contribute to the prediction of progressive myocardial failure in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The significance of 18F-FDG in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is still uncertain.

Adult↗

Comparison of technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile single photon emission computed tomography and computed tomography to detect recurrent or residual nasopharyngeal carcinomas after radiotherapy.

The diagnostic accuracy of technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (Tc-MIBI) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of head and neck to differentiate between recurrent or residual nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC) and benign lesions after radiotherapy was evaluated, and compared with computed tomography (CT). Thirty-six NPC patients 4 months after radiotherapy underwent Tc-MIBI SPECT and CT of head and neck, as well as histopathological examination of nasopharyngeal biopsies. Based on the biopsy results, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CT were 73%, 88%, and 83%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of Tc-MIBI SPECT were 64%, 96%, and 86%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of combined Tc-MIBI SPECT and CT were 100%, 88%, and 92%, respectively. Tc-MIBI SPECT had a better specificity and a lower sensitivity to differentiate benign lesions from recurrent/residual NPC when compared with CT The combined use of CT and Tc-MIBI SPECT significantly increased accuracy compared with the single use of either Tc-MIBI SPECT or CT to differentiate benign lesions recurrent/residual NPC.

Adolescent↗

[Frontal atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor evaluated by single-photon emission computerized tomography and positron emission tomography].

A case of frontal atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) was presented in the findings of single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) using 201Tl-chloride (Tl) and 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG), and positron emission tomography using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and (11C-methyl)-L-methionine (Met). A 16-year-old female had an episode of Jacksonian seizures one month prior to admission. CT scans showed an isodensity mass with heterogeneous enhancement in the left frontal lobe. MR images revealed a tumor with solid and cystic components and perifocal edema. SPECT demonstrated intense accumulation of Tl and MIBG in the enhancing lesion 15 min and 30 min after intravenous injection of tracers, respectively. The 6-hr delayed SPECT showed no retention of MIBG in the enhancing lesion. FDG-PET and Met-PET revealed high uptake of tracers in the enhancing lesion. Met did not accumulate in the frontal white matter, which appeared hyperintense on T2-weighted MR images. The patient underwent an uneventful extirpation of the solid mass, where Met had accumulated. Microscopically, the solid tumor contained rhabdoid cells, spindle-shaped cells resembling mesenchymal cells, and nests of small cells. The tumor cells were immunoreactive for vimentin, cytokeratin, and epithelial membrane antigen. The MIB-1 labeling index was 25%. The histological diagnosis was AT/RT. Postoperative course was uneventful. A dose of 32.4 Gy was administrated to the whole brain and a boost of 27.8 Gy to the T2-hyperintensity lesion. Five months after the radiotherapy, MRI showed neither abnormal enhancing lesions nor the T2-hyperintensity lesion. Multifarious studies using SPECT and PET are useful for differential diagnosis and for choosing optimal therapeutic strategy for this type of tumor.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗

[Comparative assessment of resting myocardial perfusion in patients with postinfarct cardiosclerosis by electron-beam tomography and 99mTc-MIBI myocardial single-photon tomography].

The purpose of the study was to compare myocardial perfusion assessed by electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) with that obtained by 99mTc-sestamibi single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in patients with old myocardial infarction and control subjects at rest. A total of 42 patients with suspected and known ischaemic heart disease (IHD) were included in the study. 20 pts had a history of Q-wave myocardial infarction (MI), 12 pts had an old non-Q-wave MI and 10 served as controls (without perfusion defects on SPECT images at rest). Assessment of the myocardial perfusion by EBCT was performed using the short axis view and multislice mode (MSM) during injection of 50 ml of the nonionic contrast medium at 4 ml/s via cubital vein. Perfusion defects were localized by SPECT according to 6-segment model of the LV (septal, anterior, lateral, posterior, inferior and apical). Overall concordance between EBCT and SPECT was 67% for normal versus abnormal perfusion. Agreement between the 2 methods for each of the 6 segments was 81% (K = 0.62) for the anterior segment, 71% (K = 0.42) for the septal segment, 71% (K = 0.43) for the apical, 69% (K = 0.3) for the lateral segment, 48% (K = 0.13) for the posterior segment and 60% (K = -0.13) for the inferior segment. Discrepancies between the two of techniques were most notable in the posterior region. Beam hardening during passage of the contrast medium through the heart chambers and descending aorta is possible explanation of the artifacts on EBCT images. This study demonstrates that nowadays EBCT is not yet alternative to SPECT in the assessment of the myocardial perfusion in patients and further improvements of scanning techniques are necessary.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

Detecting metastatic neck lymph nodes in papillary thyroid carcinoma by 18F-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography and Tc-99m tetrofosmin single photon emission computed tomography.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of 18-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and technetium-99m tetrofosmin (Tc-99m TF) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to detect metastatic neck lymph nodes (LN) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) after total thyroidectomy and radioiodine-131 (I-131) treatments in patients with elevated serum human thyroglobulin (hTg) levels but negative I-131 whole body scan (WBS). Thirteen PTC patients underwent nearly total thyroidectomy and I-131 treatments with proven neck LN metastases were included in this study. All subjects had negative I-131 WBS and elevated hTg levels (hTg > or = 10 mu IU/ml) under thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) stimulation (TSH > or = 30 mu IU/ml). FDG-PET and Tc-99m TF SPECT were used to detect metastatic neck LN in PTC. FDG-PET could detect all of the 13 (100%) patients with metastatic neck LN, but Tc-99m TF SPECT revealed lesions in only 8 out of 13 (61.5%) patients (p < 0.05). This study demonstrated that FDG-PET is more sensitive than Tc-99m TF SPECT to detecting metastatic neck LN in PTC with elevated serum hTg levels but negative I-131 WBS.

Adult↗

[How can intrathoracic lymphatic involvement be assessed: does tomography have a role? What is the contribution of computed tomography and MRI?].

The authors report their analysis of the literature on the evaluation of intrathoracic extension of non-small-cell bronchial cancers to lymph nodes, using tomography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The criteria used to assess the metastatic character of a lymph node, the characteristics of the populations studied and the methods of comparison with the clinicopathological "truth" account for the variations of the results published. Tomographs are useless today. The performances of CT and MRI are equivalent, and it is not necessary to associate both techniques. Although its performances are mediocre, CT allows mapping the mediastinal lymph nodes, which is useful to continue the assessment of extension and to make decisions.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung↗

Comparison of (99)mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile myocardial single-photon emission computed tomography and electron beam computed tomography for detecting coronary artery disease in patients with no myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have compared single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) in detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). The purpose of this study was to compare SPECT with EBCT in detection of CAD in patients with no MI. METHODS: One hundred and forty-seven patients with suspected CAD underwent stress-rest (99)mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile ((99)mTc-MIBI) myocardial SPECT, cardiac EBCT and coronary angiography (CAG) within one month. Of them, 73 patients (aged 52.6 +/- 10.6 years old) with no history of MI were included in this study. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) was defined as a CT value >or= 130 HU within the boundary of coronary artery on EBCT. RESULTS: There were 35 and 38 patients with or without CAD according to CAG. Ninety-six percent of the patients with abnormal SPECT and CAC had a coronary arteries stenosis >or= 50%, and 90.9% patients with normal SPECT and EBCT showed no CAD. The sensitivity of SPECT and EBCT in detection of CAD was comparable, and the specificity of SPECT (92.1%) was significantly higher than that of EBCT (55.3%) (P < 0.005). For the detection of individual coronary artery stenosis, both sensitivity and specificity of SPECT (75.0% and 93.7%) were significantly higher than those of EBCT (53.3% and 76.7%) (P < 0.025 and P < 0.005, respectively). In patients without chest pain, the sensitivity and specificity of SPECT (76.9% and 91.4%) were significantly higher than those of EBCT (23.1% and 69.0%) in detection of a coronary artery stenosis of >or= 50% (P < 0.01 and P < 0.005, respectively). However, in patients with chest pain, both sensitivity and specificity of SPECT were comparable to those of EBCT. In patients or= 50% (P < 0.005), and the specificity of SPECT was comparable to that of EBCT. In patients > 45 years old, the specificity of SPECT (94.3%) was significantly higher than that of EBCT (70.5%) (P < 0.005), and the sensitivity of SPECT was comparable to that of EBCT. CONCLUSION: (99)mTc-MIBI myocardial perfusion SPECT has higher accuracy than that of EBCT in detection of CAD in patients without MI.

Adult↗

[Value of integrated positron-emission tomography and computed tomography in gross tumor volume delineation for radiotherapy for bone metastasis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of integrated positron-emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) in gross tumor volume (GTV) delineation for three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for bone metastasis. METHODS: Three patients with multiple bone metastases were enrolled in this study, whose primary tumors were pathologically identified as lung cancer, liver cancer and renal cell carcinoma. In each case, 6 sites of bone metastases were selected, labeled as BM1 to BM6 which located in the lumbar, thoracic vertebra, rib, ilium, scapula and thighbone respectively. The GTVs of the 6 bone metastases were delineated on the CT scans for treatment planning by 8 radiation oncologists, and the results were compared with the delineation obtained on the basis of integrated CT and PET/CT for analyzing the interobserver variability. RESULTS: For BM1-5 with obvious bone cortex lesions by the carcinoma, the GTV delineated on the basis of CT was greater than that derived from PET/CT (P<0.05), whereas for BM6 with intact bone cortex, the contrary result was observed (P<0.05). For any of these bone metastasis, the interobserver variability in GTV delineation with PET/CT was less than that with CT. CONCLUSION: PET/CT is useful for improving the accuracy of GTV delineation for the protection of the normal tissues during radiotherapy.

Bone Neoplasms↗

[Potentialities of non-invasive diagnosis of coronary artery anomalies by electron-beam tomography and multislice computed tomography].

AIM: To assess diagnostic value of electron-beam computed tomography and multislice computed tomography (EBT and MSCT) for diagnosis of congenital anomalies of coronary arteries (CA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Non-invasive coronary angiography with EBT and MSCT has been performed in 1162 patients. RESULTS: Different anomalies of coronary arteries have been found in 10 (0.9%) patients. Results of EBT and MSCT agreed with those of coronary angiography performed in 8 cases with CA anomalies. Though 720 of 1162 patients had coronary stenoses, no significant atherosclerotic lesions were found in anomalous CA. CONCLUSION: EBT and MSCT enable non-invasive screening and diagnosis of coronary arteries anomalies.

Adult↗

[Clinical value of computed tomography and fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron remission tomography in diagnosis of mediastinal metastasis of non small cell lung cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical values of computed tomography (CT) and fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron remission tomography (FDG-PET) in diagnosis of mediastinal metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Sixty patients with respectable NSCLC underwent CT and FDG-PET with an interval of 2 weeks and then underwent thoracotomy for clearance of the lymph nodes or biopsy of the mediastinal lymph nodes via mediastinoscopy. The specimens of mediastinal lymph node underwent HE staining and PCNA/Ki67 immunohistochemical staining. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive prediction value, and negative prediction value in diagnosis of metastasis of mediastinal lymph nodes of these 2 procedures were compared. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive prediction value, and negative prediction value in diagnosis of metastasis of mediastinal lymph nodes were 92.3%, 87.5%, 91.2%, 96.0%, and 77.7% respectively for FDG-PET, and were 76.9%, 50.0%, 70.6%, 83.3%, and 40.0% respectively for CT. The sensitivity rate was 98% for CT plus FDG-PET. CONCLUSION: PET is superior to CT in diagnosis of metastasis of NSCLC to mediastinal lymph nodes. PET + CT significantly increases the sensitivity in diagnosis.

Aged↗

Position emission tomography with or without computed tomography in the primary staging of Hodgkin's lymphoma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In order to receive the most appropriate therapy, patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) must be accurately stratified into different prognostic staging groups. Computed tomography (CT) plays a pivotal role in the conventional staging. The aim of the present study was to investigate the value of positron emission tomography using 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG-PET) and combined FDG-PET/CT for the staging of HL patients, and the impact on the choice of treatment. DESIGN AND METHODS: Ninety-nine consecutive, prospectively included patients had FDG-PET and CT in their staging work-up. Sixty-one of the 99 patients had combined FDG-PET/CT. A standard of reference for each nodal region and organ was determined using all available information including scan results, histology and a minimum of one year's clinical follow-up data. The lack of a satisfactory diagnostic gold standard limits the reliability of accuracy calculations. RESULTS: FDG-PET would have upstaged 19% of patients and downstaged 5% of patients, leading to a different treatment in 9% of patients. For FDG-PET/CT, the corresponding figures are 17%, 5%, and 7%. In nodal regions, the sensitivity of FDG-PET and FDG-PET/CT seemed higher than that of CT (92% and 92% vs. 83%). FDG-PET identified more false positive nodal sites than did CT and FDG-PET/CT (1.6% vs 0.7% and 0.5%). FDG-PET and FDG-PET/CT were highly sensitive for evaluating organs (86% and 73%) while CT detected 37% of involved organs. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: FDG-PET and FDG-PET/CT have a substantial potential impact on staging and choice of treatment and the methods tend to upstage rather than downstage patients. FDG-PET and FDG-PET/CT seem to have a higher diagnostic accuracy than CT in the staging of HL. However, care should be taken so patients with an excellent prognosis and at risk of over-treatment do not receive more intensive treatment because of these staging methods.

Diagnostic Errors↗

The role of 11C-choline positron emission tomography-computed tomography and videomediastinoscopy in the evaluation of diseases of middle mediastinum.

BACKGROUND: Middle mediastinal masses comprise a wide variety of tumors but may also reflect lymphadenopathy, and thus remain an interesting diagnostic challenge. We performed positron emission tomography (PET) of mediastinal masses in order to evaluate the ability of PET to predict the malignancy of these tumors. We compared histologic findings, videomediastinoscopy, computed tomography (CT), and PET-CT in patients with mediastinal disease. METHODS: Thirty-two patients were evaluated with CT, PET-CT and videomediastionoscopy, and all studies were performed within four weeks in each patient. (11)C-choline as a PET tracer was used to visualize masses. PET data were evaluated using the standardized uptake value (SUV) and were compared with pathologic data. RESULTS: There were 13 men and 19 women aged from 21 to 74 (mean 45.2) years. Among the patients with mediastinal diseases, sarcoidosis was diagnosed in 12 patients, tuberculosis in 5 patients, lymphoma in 5 patients, and noncaseating granulomata without classical "sarcoid" finding in 3 patients. N2 or N3 nodal metastasis was revealed in 6 of 7 patients who had non-small cell lung cancer or suspected lung cancer, and one was negative (the pathological diagnosis was reactive hyperplasia). The accuracies for correctly diagnosing mediastinal masses for CT, PET-CT and videomediastinoscopy were 38% (12/32), 63% (20/32), and 91% (29/32) respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of videomediastinoscopy was superior to that of PET-CT (chi(2) = 11.130, P < 0.001). The SUVs were similar among these diseases. On the other hand, if the diagnostic classification was benign vs malignancy, the accuracies for CT, PET-CT and videomediastinoscopy were 53% (17/32), 75% (24/32), 100% (32/32) respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of videomediastinoscopy was superior to that of PET-CT (chi(2) = 22.042, P < 0.001). The SUV of malignant lesions (6.9, 3.2 - 9.8; n = 11) appeared to be higher than that of benign lesions (4.9, 2.9 - 8.3; n = 21), however, this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.054). CONCLUSIONS: To diagnose lesions located in the middle mediastinum, videomediastinoscopy possesses the highest diagnostic accuracy, and therefore remains the gold standard. PET-CT is valuable for differential diagnosis of benign vs malignant lesions, CT alone or PET alone (SUV) may provide misdiagnosis in a substantial proportion of patients with mediastinal masses.

Adult↗

[Positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT) suggesting small intestinal metastasis from lung cancer; report of a case].

A 75-year-old man admitted to our hospital due to an abnormal X-ray shadow detected during an annual health check-up. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed 3.0 cm solid nodules with chest wall invasion in the left lung. We could not get a definitive diagnosis by transbronchial lung biopsy or CT-guided needle biopsy. Positron emission tomography (PET)-CT revealed positive findings in the tumor, aortopulmonary window lymph node and splenic flexure. Under a diagnosis of suspected lung cancer, thoracotomy was performed. As intraoperative diagnosis revealed a moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, the patient underwent a left upper lobectomy, mediastinal lymph node dissection, and combined chest wall resection. Pathological stage was T3N2M0, stage IIIA. Ten days after surgery, the patient suffered from ileus and emergent surgery was performed. Subsequent pathological examination revealed lung cancer metastasis in the small intestine.

Aged↗