Age-related changes of standardized uptake values in the blood pool and liver: a decade-long retrospective study of the outcomes of 2,526 subjects.

Abstract

Background activity on fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is often used as a reference to assess a patient's response to tumor treatment. To produce a suitable background activity reference, we examined the variations in standardized uptake values (SUVs) in the blood pool and liver of a large multi-aged population. A total of 2,526 subjects underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT examinations and were divided into 12 age groups. Pearson's partial correlation and multivariate regression analyses were performed to assess the associations between individual factors and SUVs of the blood pool and liver and to identify the factor that most influenced the SUVs. The mean SUVs across the age groups were also determined. Positive correlations were found between individual factors and SUVs. Age appeared to be the most important predictor of SUVs and was significantly associated with the blood pool SUVmax (ß=0.466, P=0.000), blood pool SUVmean (ß=0.393, P=0.000), liver SUVmax (ß=0.347, P=0.000), and liver SUVmean (ß=0.354, P=0.000). Blood pool and liver SUVs rose rapidly until the age of 20 and then showed a slow upward trend without reaching a plateau. Age is an important factor that influences variations in the blood pool and liver SUVs. Our study clarified this understanding of age-related variations in SUVs and provided a normal range of blood pool and liver SUVs that may aid clinicians in evaluating tumors with greater accuracy.