Comparison of 18F-FLT PET and 18F-FDG PET in Esophageal Cancer

Journal of Nuclear Medicine

John Th. Plukker¹  Henderik L. van Westreenen¹  Hendrik M. van Dullemen¹  Philip H. Elsinga¹  Pieter L. Jager¹  Jelle Wesseling¹  David C.P. Cobben¹ 

关键词: esophageal cancer;    ¹⁸F-fluoro-3′-deoxy-3′-l-fluorothymidine;    ¹⁸F-FDG;    staging;   

DOI  :  

学科分类：医学（综合）

来源: Society of Nuclear Medicine

【 摘 要 】

18F-FDG PET has gained acceptance for staging of esophageal cancer. However, FDG is not tumor specific and false-positive results may occur by accumulation of FDG in benign tissue. The tracer 18F-fluoro-3′-deoxy-3′-l-fluorothymidine (18F-FLT) might not have these drawbacks. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of 18F-FLT PET for the detection and staging of esophageal cancer and to compare 18F-FLT PET with 18F-FDG PET. Furthermore, the correlation between 18F-FLT and 18F-FDG uptake and proliferation of the tumor was investigated. Methods: Ten patients with biopsy-proven cancer of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction were staged with CT, endoscopic ultrasonography, and ultrasound of the neck. In addition, all patients underwent a whole-body 18F-FLT PET and 18F-FDG PET. Standardized uptake values were compared with proliferation expressed by Ki-67 positivity. Results: 18F-FDG PET was able to detect all esophageal cancers, whereas 18F-FLT PET visualized the tumor in 8 of 10 patients. Both 18F-FDG PET and 18F-FLT PET detected lymph node metastases in 2 of 8 patients. 18F-FDG PET detected 1 cervical lymph node that was missed on 18F-FLT PET, whereas 18F-FDG PET showed uptake in benign lesions in 2 patients. The uptake of 18F-FDG (median standardized uptake value [SUVmean], 6.0) was significantly higher than 18F-FLT (median SUVmean, 3.4). Neither 18F-FDG maximum SUV (SUVmax) nor 18F-FLT SUVmax correlated with Ki-67 expression in the linear regression analysis. Conclusion: In this study, uptake of 18F-FDG in esophageal cancer is significantly higher compared with 18F-FLT uptake. 18F-FLT scans show more false-negative findings and fewer false-positive findings than do 18F-FDG scans. Uptake of 18F-FDG or 18F-FLT did not correlate with proliferation.

【 授权许可】

Unknown