Abstract
Abstract Background To investigate predictive value of pre-treatment maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and metabolic tumor volume (MTV) on short-term curative effects in esophageal cancer patients. Methods Retrospective analysis was made for 98 cases of patients with esophageal cancer treated by radiotherapy or radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy in Fujian Cancer Hospital. Before treatment, 18F-FDG PET-CT scan was performed. PET/CT images prior to treatment were read by two doctors with a high-level professional title using double-blind method. SUVmax and MTV were determined and averaged. 1–3 months after treatment, an experienced deputy director of PET/CT center and a radiotherapist evaluated the curative effect of all patients according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumor (RECIST). Results There were no significant differences of SUVmax and MTV between two groups in age, gender, cancer site, and differential extent (P > 0.05). Factors related to SUVmax were lesion length, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis and clinical stage, while differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). SUVmax & MTV were positively correlated with lesion length, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis and clinical stage. The effective rate was 67.3% (66/98). SUVmax (r = -0.283, P = 0.049) and MTV(r = -0.379, P = 0.007) were negatively correlated with short-term curative effects, but the curative effect of MTV was higher than that of SUVmax. Conclusion There were no significant effects of clinical factors e.g. age, gender, esophageal cancer site, and differential extent on SUVmax and MTV, but length of lesion, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis and clinical stage had significant effect on SUVmax and MTV. SUVmax and MTV prior to treatment can predict short-term curative effects of radiotherapy or radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy for esophageal cancer patients, but MTV is more predictive than SUVmax. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
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