Value Of PET-CT Research Articles

PET-CT offers accurate assessment of tumour length in oesophageal malignancy

IntroductionRadiotherapy is increasingly used for both curative and palliative treatment of oesophageal malignancy. Accurate treatment depends on determining tumour location and length. This study assessed the value of PET-CT versus other staging modalities in determining tumour length. Materials and methodsOesophageal cancer patients who underwent staging with PET/CT and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in addition to their diagnostic upper GI endoscopy and subsequent surgical resection were assessed. PET/CT length was obtained retrospectively by using Hermes Hybrid Viewer™ with a 1–5 Standardised Uptake Value grey scale. An SUV of 5 was used as the cut off for determining length. Direct measurement by EUS and OGD were determined. Results53 patients underwent PET-CT, EUS, OGD and surgical resection for oesophageal cancer. Overall the correlation between PET-CT and histopathological length was strongest (Pearson r=0.5977, 95% CI 0.390–0.747) versus EUS (Pearson R=0.5365, 95% CI 0.311–0.705) and OGD (Pearson r=0.1574, 95% CI −0.118 to 0.410). After excluding tumours with a significant chemotherapy response, PET-CT length correlated significantly with histopathological length (R=0.5651, p=0.0005). In comparison, the correlation between histological length and EUS (R=0.4637, p=0.0057) measurement was less significant and this did not correlate with OGD (R=−0.1084, p=0.5417). ConclusionTumour length estimated by PET-CT correlated most strongly with histopathological length of oesophageal malignancy and is the most accurate determinant of tumour length of all the staging modalities. This suggests a potential role for PET-CT in the planning of radiotherapy and resection, particularly when considering the practical limitations of EUS.

Prognostic value of PET-CT after first-line therapy in patients with follicular lymphoma: a pooled analysis of central scan review in three multicentre studies

The value of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET-CT (PET) imaging in response assessment after first-line rituximab chemotherapy for follicular lymphoma has been documented. We analysed the application of the five-point Deauville scale (5PS; used to score FDG uptake on PET images) in a large cohort derived from three studies, to assess the correlation between post-induction PET status and survival in patients with follicular lymphoma. In this pooled analysis, we used data from three multicentre prospective studies of first-line rituximab chemotherapy for patients with high-tumour-burden follicular lymphoma (the PRIMA study, the PET-Folliculaire study, and the Fondazione Italiana Linfomi FOLL05 study). Patients included in this analysis received at least six cycles of rituximab and chemotherapy before response assessment with conventional contrast-enhanced CT and PET low-dose CT (PET). We included only patients who had a PET scan within 3 months of the last dose of induction rituximab. Patient data, including conventional CT-based response assessment, were recorded for all patients undergoing PET review. Scans undergoing central PET review were scored independently by three reviewers according to the 5PS. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival and overall survival according to the 5PS score of post-induction PET scan (ie, positive [≥4 points] or negative [<4 points]), analysed in the central review population. Between Dec 24, 2004, and Sept 22, 2010, 439 of the patients enrolled in the three studies underwent local PET assessment, 246 of whom had centrally reviewed post-induction scans. 41 (17%) of 246 patients had a positive post-induction PET scan according to a cutoff of 4 or higher on the 5PS, with substantial reporter concordance. With a median follow-up of 54·8 months (IQR 39·7-68·5; range 7·7-90·1), the hazard ratio (HR) for progression-free survival for patients with a positive PET scan versus those with a negative PET scan was 3·9 (95% CI 2·5-5·9; p<0·0001), and for overall survival was 6·7 (2·4-18·5; p=0·0002). For patients with a positive PET scan, 23·2% (95% CI 11·1-37·9) of patients were progression free at 4 years compared with 63·4% (55·9-70·0) of those who had a negative PET scan (p<0·0001); 4-year overall survival was 87·2% (95% CI 71·9-94·5) versus 97·1% (93·2-98·8), respectively (p<0·0001). Conventional CT-based response (ie, complete response or unconfirmed complete response vs partial response) was weakly predictive of progression-free survival (HR 1·7 [95% CI 1·1-2·5]; p=0·017). PET-CT rather than contrast-enhanced CT scanning should be considered as a new standard for response assessment of follicular lymphoma in clinical practice, and could help guide response-adapted therapy. Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte (Paris, France), now LYSA (Lymphoma Study Association), Direction de la Recherche Clinique de l'Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Fondazione Italiana Linfomi, and the Italian Ministry of Health.

PET-CT restaging: a surrogate for follicular lymphoma?

The PET scan was invented in 1987 and first used to assess patients with lymphoma around 1990. However, it took until 2005 to show that this technology, when integrated into standardised response criteria, could predict patient outcome better than CT alone because of its ability to distinguish viable lymphoma from fibrotic tissue. Juweid and colleagues 1 Juweid M Wiseman GA Vose JM et al. Response assessment of aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma by integrated International Workshop criteria (IWC) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET). J Clin Oncol. 2005; 23: 4652-4661 Crossref PubMed Scopus (340) Google Scholar first showed that progression-free survival in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and a residual mass after treatment that was no longer 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-avid was similar to those in complete remission as assessed by standard International Working Group response criteria. 2 Cheson BD Horning SJ Coiffier B et al. Report of an International Workshop to standardize response criteria for non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. J Clin Oncol. 1999; 17: 1244-1253 Crossref PubMed Google Scholar Thus, PET was incorporated into revised response criteria in 2007, 3 Cheson BD Pfistner B Juweid ME et al. Revised response criteria for malignant lymphoma. J Clin Oncol. 2007; 25: 579-586 Crossref PubMed Scopus (3685) Google Scholar albeit mainly for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma, because they are curable disorders and an inadequate response needs to be managed with some urgency. Other FDG-avid histologies, notably follicular lymphoma, were not included in this recommendation because of the paucity of data correlating residual FDG activity and patient outcome. Prognostic value of PET-CT after first-line therapy in patients with follicular lymphoma: a pooled analysis of central scan review in three multicentre studiesPET-CT rather than contrast-enhanced CT scanning should be considered as a new standard for response assessment of follicular lymphoma in clinical practice, and could help guide response-adapted therapy. Full-Text PDF

Prognostic value of PET-CT after frontline therapy in follicular lymphoma: A pooled analysis of central review in three multicenter studies.

8502 Background: The value of 18F-FDG PET-CT (PET) in response assessment after induction rituximab-chemotherapy for advanced stage symptomatic follicular lymphoma (FL) has recently been documented...

The application value of PET-CT in lymphoma

The application value of PET-CT in lymphoma

Stellenwert der nuklearmedizinischen Diagnostik bei CUP-Syndrom

The diagnostic work-up in patients with carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) syndrome is extensive, highly time-consuming and cost-intensive and ultimately often fails to detect a primary site. In this context chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) have been used as standard imaging modalities in CUP syndrome. Since the introduction of positron emission tomography (PET) evaluation of tumor vitality has become possible. Furthermore, PET-CT hybrid scanners allow the combination of functional and morphological imaging. Several meta-analyses have reported an additional overall detection rate between 24.5% and 44 % by either PET or PET-CT. Metastatic localization (cervical versus extracervical) did not influence the performance. The sensitivity was usually high (> 80 %) but specificity was moderate ranging from 68% to 88 % at best. If mentioned, the results obtained by fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET significantly changed the clinical management in approximately one third of the patients studied. In a direct comparison with PET alone, PET-CT did not depict significantly more primary tumors but was able to reduce false positive findings. To determine the real additional value of PET-CT in the diagnosis of CUP syndrome large prospective studies with more uniform inclusion criteria are needed. Despite the capabilities of FDG-PET-CT there is as yet no evidence that a potentially improved diagnostic algorithm is translated into a better patient outcome. Nevertheless, FDG-PET-CT should be performed in all CUP patients where conventional imaging failed to detect a primary site or the results are equivocal. In CUP patients with cervical lymph node metastases PET-CT should be carried out prior to panendoscopy to reduce the number of false negative biopsies.

A comparison of diagnostic imaging modalities for colorectal liver metastases

The aims of this study were to compare the diagnostic performance of CT scan, MR liver, PET-CT and intra-operative ultrasound (IOUS) for the detection of liver metastases against the histopathological findings, and to compare PET-CT with CT for the detection of distant disease in metastatic colorectal cancer patients eligible for surgical treatment. A prospective study was performed that measured concordance between the number and stage of metastatic lesions identified with various preoperative imaging modalities and histology of patients undergoing surgical treatment for CRLM. Compared with histopathology, concordance for the number of metastatic liver lesions was moderate for CT scan (K = 0.477, 95% CI: 0.28-0.66), moderate for MR scan (K = 0.574, 95% CI: 0.39-0.75), good for FDG PET-CT (K = 0.703, 95% CI: 0.52-0.87) and very good for IOUS (K = 0.904, 95% CI: 0.81-0.99). Additional CRLM were identified intraoperatively in six patients (9.1%) with IOUS and in 7.5% of the cases surgical strategy was changed according to the new intraoperative findings. The diagnosis of intra abdominal lymph node metastatic disease was made with PET-CT only in nine patients (13.6%) Our study supports the recent recommendations of the Oncosurg Multidisciplinary International Consensus regarding the importance of high quality CT and MR in the staging of CRLM but provides further evidence for the added value of PET-CT, especially in detecting extrahepatic intra-abdominal metastatic disease that may be amenable to potentially curative resection. Despite these advances in preoperative staging, there still remains a role for IOUS in detecting additional metastases at the time of surgery.

Prognostic Value of Preoperative Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography in Surgically Resected Gastric Cancer

The diagnostic value of PET-CT, in gastric cancer is well known, but the prognostic value of pretreatment PET-CT has not been adequately evaluated. This study aimed to investigate the preoperative prognostic value of PET-CT in gastric cancer patients. A total of 107 patients underwent surgical treatment for gastric cancer from April 2007 to December 2010 at Dong-A University Medical Center after confirming the presence of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake on preoperative PET-CT. Among these patients, the following subjects were excluded: follow-up loss (13), palliative resection (5), neoadjuvant chemotherapy (1), and unrelated death (1). The remaining 87 patients were included in this study and data were collected by retrospectively reviewing the medical records. The median follow-up duration, defined as the period from operation to last imaging study date, was 34.2±14.8 months. FDG uptake values were represented by maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax). In order to assess the correlation between SUVmax and recurrence, Kaplan-Meier's survival analysis with log-rank test and cox proportional hazard model were performed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was employed to determine the optimal cutoff value of SUVmax. The result of Kaplan-Meier's survival analysis with log-rank test were significantly different between high SUVmax group and low SUVmax group (p=0.035), the cutoff value of which was 5.6. However, in multivariate analysis with cox proportional hazard model, T-staging, N-staging and SUVmax did not show statistical significance (p=0.190, p=0.307, and p=0.436, respectively). High SUVmax on PET-CT in gastric cancer can be a useful prognostic factor.

Predictive value of PET-CT for pathological response in stages II and III breast cancer patients following neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel

To prospectively study the value of PET-CT with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) to predict neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) response of locoregional disease of stages II and III breast cancer patients. A written informed consent and approval were obtained from the Ethics Committee. PET-CT accuracy in the prediction of pathologic complete response (pCR) after NAC was studied in primary tumors and lymph node metastasis in 43 women (mean age: 50 years: range: 27-71 years) with histologically proven breast cancer between December 2009 and January 2011. PET-CT was performed at baseline and after NAC. SUV(max) percentage changes (ΔSUV(max)) were compared with pathology findings at surgery. Receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to discriminate between locoregional pCR and non-pCR. In patients not achieving pCR, it was investigated if ΔSUV(max) could accurately identify the residual cancer burden (RCB) classes: RCB-I (minimal residual disease (MRD)), RCB-II (moderate RD), and RCB-III (extensive RD). pCR was obtained in 11 patients (25.6%). Residual disease was found in 32 patients (74.4%): 16 (37.2%) RCB-I, 15 (35.6%) RCB-II and 2 (4.7%) RCB-III. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy to predict pCR were 90.9%, 90.6%, and 90.7%, respectively. Specificity was 94.1% in the identification of a subset of patients who had either pCR or MRD. Accuracy of ΔSUV(max) in the locoregional disease of stages II and III breast cancer patients after NAC is high for the identification of pCR cases. Its specificity is potentially sufficient to identify a subgroup of patients who could be managed with conservative surgery.

Predictive value of PET-CT for pathological response in stages II and III breast cancer patients following neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel

PurposeTo prospectively study the value of PET-CT with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) to predict neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) response of locoregional disease of stages II and III breast cancer patients. Material and methodsA written informed consent and approval were obtained from the Ethics Committee. PET-CT accuracy in the prediction of pathologic complete response (pCR) after NAC was studied in primary tumors and lymph node metastasis in 43 women (mean age: 50 years: range: 27–71 years) with histologically proven breast cancer between December 2009 and January 2011. PET-CT was performed at baseline and after NAC. SUVmax percentage changes (ΔSUVmax) were compared with pathology findings at surgery. Receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to discriminate between locoregional pCR and non-pCR. In patients not achieving pCR, it was investigated if ΔSUVmax could accurately identify the residual cancer burden (RCB) classes: RCB-I (minimal residual disease (MRD)), RCB-II (moderate RD), and RCB-III (extensive RD). ResultspCR was obtained in 11 patients (25.6%). Residual disease was found in 32 patients (74.4%): 16 (37.2%) RCB-I, 15 (35.6%) RCB-II and 2 (4.7%) RCB-III. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy to predict pCR were 90.9%, 90.6%, and 90.7%, respectively. Specificity was 94.1% in the identification of a subset of patients who had either pCR or MRD. ConclusionAccuracy of ΔSUVmax in the locoregional disease of stages II and III breast cancer patients after NAC is high for the identification of pCR cases. Its specificity is potentially sufficient to identify a subgroup of patients who could be managed with conservative surgery.

PET/CT Before Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation Predicts Outcome In High-Risk, Relapsed Follicular Lymphoma

IntroductionFirst-line immunochemotherapy followed by two years of rituximab (R) maintenance is now the standard of care for high-tumor burden follicular lymphoma (FL). In spite of an old controversy regarding the heterogeneous metabolic activity of FL lesions, either interim or final PET-CT after R-CHOP first-line therapy is now recognize to be strongly predictive of outcome.At the time of relapse, R-chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is a recommended option. Though, some patients will relapse quickly while others achieve long-term remissions. We investigated the prognostic value of PET-CT in patients with high-tumor burden relapsed FL treated with salvage R-chemotherapy followed by ASCT. Patients and MethodsSeventy-five patients with relapsed FL referred to three French institutions were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with grade 3b follicular lymphoma or transformed into diffuse large B-cell lymphoma were excluded. Patients received second-line immunochemotherapy according to the local physician's choice. We classified these salvage treatments into three groups: fludarabine-based regimen (n=29, group 1), cytarabine-based regimen (n=31, group 2), or ifosfamide-based regimen (n=15, group 3). PET-CT scans performed after salvage therapy (before ASCT) were included in the analyses. The local investigator's interpretation of the imaging physician's scan report defined a positive or negative PET. ResultsMedian age was 56 years and 60% were men. Sixty eight patients received ASCT. Among this whole high-risk study population, 87% relapsed before 36 months after R-CHOP and 42% relapsed within 6 months and were therefore considered as R-CHOP refractory, with a median progression free survival (PFS) after R-CHOP first-line therapy of 15 months. Only 21% of the patients received R maintenance after R-CHOP.PET-CT scans after salvage therapy (before ASCT) were considered negative in 57%/76%/47% among the 3 groups respectively (p=0.06). Median stem cell harvest was higher in group 3-ifosfamide-based (8.3.106) than in both fludarabine and cytarabine-based regimens (4.47 and 4.8.106 respectively, Mann-Whitney p=0.15). Conditioning regimen was BEAM (37%) or Zevalin-BEAM (56%). Thirteen patients received R maintenance after ASCT.At a median follow-up of 28 months, 26/75 patients relapsed and 62 are alive. At 2 years, median PFS was 63.8%/66%/53.5% and median overall survival (OS) 68%/94%/92% among the 3 groups, respectively.PFS was only correlated to PET-CT results (p=0.0006). OS was correlated to group of therapy (2-3 versus 1), FLIPI score at relapse and PET-CT negativity. The latter was the strongest OS predictor on a multivariate analysis (p<0.01). On the other hand, age, gender, conditioning regimen, and PFS after R-CHOP (<36 months or even <12 months) were not linked to shorter PFS/OS.We observed 12% of second non-hematologic cancer. ConclusionPET-CT scan negativity after salvage treatment is the most important favourable factor for relapsed/refractory FL patients who receive ASCT. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

P53 The utility of PET-CT in detecting non-nodal extrathoracic metastases in lung cancer compared to the staging CT

BackgroundNICE Lung Cancer Guidelines 2011 recommend performing a PET-CT in patients being considered for radical treatment after a staging CT of the neck, chest and liver has been performed. If...

Comparison of PET-CT with 18F-FDG and 13N-NH3/11 C-MET and MRI in diagnoses of gliomas

Objective To compare the diagnostic value of PET-CT and MRI in diagnosing of gliomas.Methods To compare the sensitivity and specificity of PET-CT with 18F-FDG and 13N-NH3/11 C-MET with MRI,the results of MRI and PET-CT imaging of 52 patients with suspicious gliomas were retrospectively reviewed.All cases were confirmed by operation and histopathology.Results Among the 52 cases,32 patients were verified with glioma.In PET-CT imaging there were only 2 false positive cases and 2 false negative cases.In contrast MRI produced 4 false positive cases and 13 false negative cases.The occurrence ratio is significantly different between these two entities (McNemar test,x2 =104,P =0.007 ＜0.05).PET-CT displayed sensitivity 94％ (30/32),specificity 90％ (18/20),and accuracy 92％ (48/52)in the diagnosis of gliomas.But MRI had the sensitivity 59％ (19/32),specificity 80％ (16/20),and accuracy 67％ (35/52).Conclusions Compared with MRI,PET-CT with 18F-FDG and 13 N-NH3/11 C-MET were demonstrated with higher sensitivity,specificity and accuracy than MRI,and would have more advantages in the diagnoses of intracranial gliomas. Key words: Gliomas ; Imaging agent; PET-CT; MRI

When should FDG‐PET be used in the modern management of lymphoma?

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a functional imaging technique that, combined with computerized tomography (PET-CT), is increasingly used in lymphoma. Most subtypes accumulate fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and the increased sensitivity of PET-CT, especially for extranodal disease, compared to CT, makes PET-CT an attractive staging tool. The availability of a staging PET-CT scan also improves the accuracy of subsequent response assessment. 'Interim' PET-CT can be used to assess early response and end-of-treatment PET-CT assesses remission. Clinical trials are currently seeking to establish whether the predictive value of PET-CT can be successfully used to guide individual treatment to reduce toxicity and/or to improve outcomes. Standardized methods for performing and reporting PET have been developed in the context of trials. The role of PET in transplantation selection is currently evolving, as it appears to be more accurate and prognostic than CT. The role of FDG PET-CT throughout the management course in patients with lymphoma is explored in this review, with areas discussed that may limit the use of PET-CT imaging which clinicians should be familiar with to inform practice.

Sarcoidosis lymphoma syndrome - the value of PET-CT in the diagnosis

We report a 52-year-old patient who developed B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma subsequent to sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis was diagnosed 16 years ago and remained asymptomatic for 14 years after steroid treatment. She presented with new symptoms of arthralgia, photosensitivity, butterfly erythema, autoimmune antibodies (ANA, chromatin positivity) associated with progression of the known left upper lobe lesion on the chest X-ray suggesting primary autoimmune disease (systemic lupus erythematosus). As steroid treatment was not effective, we started bolus cyclophosphamide therapy after which progression was seen on the chest X-ray. Computed tomography (CT)-guided needle biopsy confirmed malignancy of indefinable origin. Despite of the well-known fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) avidity in active sarcoidosis, a FDG-positron emission tomography (PET) scan was performed to stage the primary tumour. Intensive FDG uptake was detected in the affected lung segment, with moderate uptake in mediastinal lymph nodes. The patient underwent left upper lobectomy. The histology showed pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoma (bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) lymphoma) in the lung tissue, while only sarcoidosis was present in the mediastinal lymph nodes. Bone marrow biopsy was negative.The association between sarcoidosis and lymphoma is known as sarcoidosis lymphoma syndrome, which is a rare disease. PET-CT was helpful in the differentiation of sarcoidosis and malignancy in this patient. It is important to be aware of the risk of lymphoma in sarcoidosis and FDG-PET, used for adequate purpose, can help the diagnosis.

OP0306 Evaluation of Disease Activity Using FDG PET-CT in Patients with Large Vessel Vasculitis

Background18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computerized tomography (CT) [PET/CT] has been proposed as a useful tool to diagnose and monitor activity of large vessel vasculitis (LVV), but its precise role...

Diagnostic accuracy of PET scan in salvage lymph node resections in patients with prostate cancer (CaP).

215 Background: PET-CT scans in patients with CaP are often used to identify either local recurrent disease or suspected lymph node metastases in early biochemical recurrent disease. The diagnostic accuracy is controversial. We want to show our experience of PET-CT and its diagnostic accuracy in salvage lymph node dissection. Methods: 21 patients treated with radical prostatectomy between 1997 and 2009 presented with PET-CT´s and biochemical recurrent disease and were treated by salvage lymph node dissection to prolong the time to either androgene deprivation or chemotherapy. Diagnostic accuracy was correlated per patient and per lymph nodes. Results: Mean PSA at time of lymph node dissection was 2,73 (0,4-8,4)ng/ml. 17 (81%) received prior radiotherapy and 6 (29%) received androgene deprivation. In total 203 lymph nodes were resected with 58 (29%) harbouring metastasis in 15 (71%) patients. This leads to a Sensitivity, Specifity, positive and negative predictive value of 69%, 12%, 76% and 88% concerning lymph node detection and 70%, 0%, 93% and 0% concerning the calculation per patient. At time of analysis follow-up was available in 5 patients with a biochemical recurrence free survival of 5 (3-12) months. Conclusions: The value of PET-CT in salvage lymph node dissection is under debate and must be questioned according to our results in this setting.

Abstract P3-03-02: The metastatic rate of IMLN, when IMLN metastasis is suspected with PET CT.

Abstract Background: Metastatic status of internal mammary lymph nodes (IMLNs) has a clinical importance in assessing stage and prognosis of breast cancer. But, when metastasis of IMLN is suspected, the management is controversial. We reviewed 29 breast cancer patients who had IMLN dissection, retrospectively, and investigated the pathologic status of IMLNs. Methods: From August 2005 to December 2011, at Yeungnam University Hospital, 43 patients underwent IMLN biopsy or dissection for suspected IMLN metastasis on lymphoscintigraphy (7 patients), breast ultrasound (1 patient) or PET CT (29 patients), when diagnosed with primary or recurred breast cancer. 6 patients who had stage IV at diagnosis or had too obscure data to identify exact location of IMLN, were excluded. Among them, we reviewed clinicopathologic features of IMLN detected on PET CT and metastatic status of IMLNs was investigated. Results: Total 29 patients were included in this study. 19 patients and 10 patients underwent IMLN dissection when diagnosed with primary or recurred breast cancer, respectively. Unlike conventional IMLN dissections, our IMLN biopsy or dissection was done during Radical mastectomy (in 2 pts.), modified radical mastectomy (in 14 pts.), using incision of breast conserving surgery (in 3 pts.) and separated incision (in 10 pts.), with or without resection of ribs. The mean number of IMLNs was 2.76±2.15 and total metastatic rate of IMLN was 72.4% (21/29). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of PET CT was following: 91.3%, 42.8%, 72.4% and 27.6%. Mean standard uptake value (SUV) of metastatic and non-metastatic IMLN were 3.6±2.9 and 3.9±2.6 and there was no statistical difference (p-value=0.821). During IMLN dissection, besides initial approach intercostals space (ICS), some metastatic IMLN was also found in upper or lower level ICS (42.9%, 6/14). Only IMLN metastasis without axillary nodes metastasis were found in 3 patients and the tumor location of these patients was all inner or central quadrant. Chest X-ray was done postoperatively as routine procedure, and there were no other specific complications such as pneumothorax or hemothorax. Conclusion: IMLN dissection without radical mastectomy can be done safely without complications due to recent advance in diagnostic and surgical skills. If SUV on IMLN is shown on the PET-CT, IMLN dissection is needed, regardless of SUV. If breast cancer is located at inner quadrant, more aggressive dissection of IMLN is needed. Further follow-up and studies are needed to assess locoregional recurrence and to compare improvement in overall survival and disease free survival. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-03-02.

Outcome after PET-CT Based Radiotherapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

The value of PET-CT in radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with regard to determination of target volumes is established. It is less clear whether its use can improve clinical outcomes of irradiated NSCLC patients compared to conventional staging. The outcome of NSCLC patients included in a previously published prospective study of the value of PET-CT in curative radiotherapy candidates was assessed. Patients were treated according to the PET-CT findings. The survival data were compared between 67 patients treated curatively and 22 patients with palliative treatment given after upstaging based on the PET-CT findings. Survival of curatively treated stage III patients was compared with a previously published outcome of 173 stage III patients treated in the same institution with the same radiation schedule but without PET-CT. The 3-year overall survival was 42% and 0% (median: 21 months and 7 months), for curatively and palliatively managed patients, respectively (p 〈 0.0001). However, the median overall survival of 17 months for 50 stage III patients was the same as that in a previously published series of stage III patients treated with the same radiation schedule but without PET-CT. Three-year overall survival rates were 33% for the PET-CT group and 19% for historical group, p = 0.1. Twenty-one local recurrences and 21 distant metastases were reported. Three of 50 patients (6%) treated without elective nodal irradiation developed isolated nodal failure (without local recurrence). The high early mortality rate in the patients disqualified from curative radiotherapy after PET-CT suggests the potential value of PET-CT for improving the radiotherapy outcome. However, this benefit seems to be limited in stage III patients.

PTU-175 Value of PET-CT following neo-adjuvant chemotherapy to predict histological outcome in oesophageal adenocarcinoma

IntroductionRepeat FDG-PET-CT imaging after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for oesophageal adenocarcinoma is controversial. Some authors claim repeat PET-CT enables clear management decisions to be made in carcinoma of the oesophagus1 2...