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Role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the prediction of gastric cancer recurrence after curative surgical resection

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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The study evaluated the role of preoperative 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT in the prediction of recurrent gastric cancer after curative surgical resection.

Methods

A total of 271 patients with gastric cancer who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT and subsequent curative surgical resection were enrolled. All patients underwent follow-up for cancer recurrence with a mean duration of 24 ± 12 months. 18F-FDG PET/CT images were visually assessed and, in patients with positive 18F-FDG cancer uptake, the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of cancer lesions was measured. 18F-FDG PET/CT findings were tested as prognostic factors for cancer recurrence and compared with conventional prognostic factors. Furthermore, 18F-FDG PET/CT findings were assessed as prognostic factors according to histopathological subtypes.

Results

Of 271 patients, 47 (17 %) had a recurrent event. Positive 18F-FDG cancer uptake was shown in 149 patients (55 %). Tumour size, depth of invasion, presence of lymph node metastasis, positive 18F-FDG uptake and SUVmax were significantly associated with tumour recurrence in univariate analysis, while only depth of invasion, positive 18F-FDG uptake and SUVmax had significance in multivariate analysis. The 24-month recurrence-free survival rate was significantly higher in patients with negative 18F-FDG uptake (95 %) than in those with positive 18F-FDG uptake (74 %; p < 0.0001). In subgroup analysis, 18F-FDG uptake was a significant prognostic factor in patients with tubular adenocarcinoma (p = 0.003) or poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (p = 0.0001). However, only marginal significance was shown in patients with signet-ring cell carcinoma and mucinous carcinoma (p = 0.05).

Conclusion

18F-FDG uptake of gastric cancer is an independent and significant prognostic factor for tumour recurrence. 18F-FDG PET/CT could provide effective information on the prognosis after surgical resection of gastric cancer, especially in tubular adenocarcinoma and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma.

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Correspondence to Sang Mi Lee.

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Lee, J.W., Lee, S.M., Lee, MS. et al. Role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the prediction of gastric cancer recurrence after curative surgical resection. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 39, 1425–1434 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-012-2164-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-012-2164-2

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