Analysis of blood flow and glucose metabolism in mammary carcinomas and normal breast: a H2(15)O PET and 18F-FDG PET study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine parameters of perfusion, distribution coefficient, and glucose metabolism as part of the tumour-specific micromilieu of breast cancer and compare them with corresponding values in normal breast tissue. METHODS: H2(15)O PET and 18F-FDG PET were performed on 10 patients with advanced invasive ductal carcinomas of the breast. Perfusion, distribution coefficient, and glucose metabolism and standardized uptake were quantified and analysed. RESULTS: Mean values based on the regions of interest were 59.2+/-43.9 ml x min(-1) x 100 g(-1) (perfusion), 0.58+/-0.26 ml x g(-1) (distribution coefficient), 7.76+/-6.10 (standardized uptake), and 5.4+/-2.5 mg x min(-1) x 100 g(-1) (glucose metabolism). The corresponding values for normal breast tissue were 22.1+/-13.2 ml x min x 100 g(-1) (perfusion), 0.16+/-0.05 ml x g(-1) (distribution coefficient), 0.33+/-0.07 (standardized uptake), and 0.18+/-0.08 mg x min x 100 g(-1) (glucose metabolism). For each tumour-normal tissue parameter pair, the mean values were significantly higher in tumours than normal breast tissue. Region-of-interest and pixel-wise correlation analysis revealed a positive association between glucose metabolism and distribution coefficient and glucose metabolism and perfusion for 7/10 tumours investigated. CONCLUSIONS: H2(15)O PET and 18F-FDG PET were able to differentiate breast cancer and normal breast tissue. The pixel-wise analysis revealed information about the heterogeneity of tumour fine structure in perfusion, distribution coefficient, and glucose metabolism, which may provide important guidelines for improving individual treatment.

Positron emission tomography-measured abnormal responses of myocardial blood flow to sympathetic stimulation are associated with the risk of developing cardiovascular events.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to assess prospectively whether patients with normal coronary angiograms but with impaired myocardial blood flow (MBF) increases to cold pressor testing (CPT) are at increased risk for cardiovascular events. BACKGROUND: Invasive angiographic assessments of coronary vasomotor function have demonstrated an impairment of endothelium-related coronary flow increases to independently predict future cardiovascular events. It is unknown whether noninvasive positron emission tomography (PET)-measured MBF alterations to sympathetic stimulation with CPT are associated with the risk of developing cardiovascular events. METHODS: A total of 72 patients (44 men, 28 women, age 58 +/- 8 years) referred for diagnostic cardiac catheterization were studied. Myocardial blood flow was measured in absolute units with (13)N-ammonia using PET, at baseline and during CPT in each patient. Cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, coronary artery bypass grafting, ischemic stroke, or peripheral revascularization) were assessed as clinical outcome parameters over a mean follow-up period of 66 +/- 8 months. Patients were assigned to three groups: group 1, patients with >/=40% increase in MBF (%DeltaMBF), n = 22; group 2, patients with >0 and <40% increases in MBF, n = 32; and group 3, patients with decreases in MBF (

Chronic inflammation and impaired coronary vasoreactivity in patients with coronary risk factors.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to examine a possible association between systemic microinflammation, as reflected by C-reactive protein (CRP) serum levels, and coronary vasomotion in patients with coronary risk factors but with angiographically normal coronary arteries. METHODS AND RESULTS: Coronary vasomotor function was studied in response to cold pressor testing (CPT) in 71 patients with normal angiograms. In all patients, CPT-induced changes in epicardial luminal area (LA; mm2) were assessed with quantitative angiography. Within 20 days, myocardial blood flow (MBF) responses to CPT were measured (mL x g(-1) x min(-1)) noninvasively with 13N-ammonia and PET imaging. The CPT-induced mean changes in LA and in MBF in patients with elevated CRP (> or =0.5 mg/dL) were significantly impaired compared with patients presenting with CRP levels within normal range (<0.5 mg/dL) (DeltaLA, -1.09+/-0.86 versus 0.45+/-0.63 mm2; DeltaMBF, 0.06+/-0.18 versus 0.44+/-0.31 mL x g(-1) x min(-1); P<0.0001, respectively). Coronary LA changes and MBF responses to CPT were inversely correlated with CRP serum levels (r=-0.84 and r=-0.63; P<0.0001). Lastly, regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between the changes in LA and MBF during CPT for patients with elevated CRP levels and those for patients with normal CRP levels (r=0.56 and r=0.66; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a direct association between systemic microinflammation and altered coronary vasomotor function of both the epicardial conductance and the arteriolar resistance vessels.

Coronary vasoregulation in patients with various risk factors in response to cold pressor testing: contrasting myocardial blood flow responses to short- and long-term vitamin C administration.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine whether abnormal myocardial blood flow (MBF) responses to the cold pressor test (CPT) in patients with various risk factors may involve different mechanisms that could lead to varying responses of short- and long-term administration of antioxidants. BACKGROUND: There is a growing body of evidence that increased vascular production of reactive oxygen species markedly reduces the bioavailability of endothelium-derived nitric oxide, leading to impaired vasodilator function. It is unknown whether increased oxidative stress is the prevalent mechanism underlying endothelial dysfunction in patients with different coronary risk factors. METHODS: Fifty patients with normal coronary angiograms were studied. The MBF responses to CPT was determined by means of positron emission tomography before and after intravenous infusion of 3 g vitamin C or saline (placebo), as well as after 3 months and 2 years of 2 g vitamin C or placebo supplementation daily. RESULTS: In hypertensive patients, the change in MBF (DeltaMBF) was not modified significantly by short-term vitamin C administration challenges (0.20 +/- 0.20 ml/g/min; p = NS) but was significantly increased after three months and two years of treatment with vitamin C versus baseline (0.58 +/- 0.27 and 0.63 +/- 0.17 vs. 0.14 +/- 0.18 ml/g/min; both p < or = 0.001). In smokers, DeltaMBF in response to CPT was significantly increased after short-term vitamin C infusion and long-term vitamin C treatment (0.52 +/- 0.10, 0.54 +/- 0.13, 0.50 +/- 0.07 vs. -0.08 +/- 0.10 ml/g/min; all p < or = 0.001). In hypercholesterolemic patients, no improvement in DeltaMBF during CPT was observed after short- and long-term vitamin C treatment (0.05 +/- 0.14, 0.08 +/- 0.18, 0.02 +/- 0.19 vs. 0.08 +/- 0.16 ml/g/min; p = NS). The CPT-induced DeltaMBF in hypertensive patients and smokers after follow-up was significant as compared with placebo and control subjects (p < or = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed marked heterogeneous responses in MBF changes to short- and long-term vitamin C treatment in patients with various risk factors, which highlights the quite complex nature underlying abnormal coronary vasomotion.

Prognostic value of abnormal vasoreactivity of epicardial coronary arteries to sympathetic stimulation in patients with normal coronary angiograms.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate prospectively whether patients with normal coronary angiogram but abnormal epicardial vasoreactivity to cold pressor test (CPT) are at increased risk for cardiovascular events. METHODS AND RESULTS: Vasoreactivity in response to CPT and dilation of epicardial arteries to intracoronary application of nitroglycerin were assessed quantitatively (percent change of luminal area, DeltaLA%) in 130 patients with normal coronary angiograms. Cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, coronary bypass grafting, ischemic stroke, or peripheral revascularization) were assessed as clinical outcome parameters over a mean follow-up period of 45+/-9 months. Based on their vascular responses to CPT, patients were assigned into the following 3 groups: group 1, patients with normal vasodilator response (DeltaLA >0%; n=37); group 2, patients with moderate vasoconstrictor response (DeltaLA between 0% and -15%; n=42); and group 3, patients with severe vasoconstrictor response (DeltaLA < or =-15%; n=51). Although patients from groups 2 and 3 had significantly increased vasoconstrictor response to CPT (group 2, DeltaLA -6+/-3% and group 3, DeltaLA -24+/-6% versus group 1, DeltaLA 11+/-9%; P< or =0.0001), they showed normal endothelial-independent epicardial vasodilation to intracoronary application of nitroglycerin similar to patients from group 1 (DeltaLA 39+/-16% and 34+/-14% versus 41+/-14%; P=NS, respectively). During follow-up, none of the patients from group 1 developed cardiac events. However, 7 cardiovascular events occurred in group 2 and 30 occurred in group 3 in 4 and 22 patients, respectively (P< or =0.0001, univariate by log-rank test). After adjustment for known risk factors for coronary artery disease, impaired epicardial coronary vasoreactivity to CPT remained significantly associated with the risk of developing cardiovascular events (P=0.040, multivariate by Cox regression model). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with normal coronary angiogram, abnormal vasoreactivity of epicardial coronary arteries in response to sympathetic stimulation is associated with the risk of developing cardiovascular events.

Tumor response and clinical benefit in neuroendocrine tumors after 7.4 GBq (90)Y-DOTATOC.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this prospective phase II study was to evaluate the tumor response of neuroendocrine tumors to high-dose targeted irradiation with 7.4 GBq/m(2) of the radiolabeled somatostatin analog (90)Y-1,4,7,10-tetra-azacyclododecan-4,7,10-tricarboxy-methyl-1-yl-acetyl-D-Phe-Tyr(3)-octreotide (DOTATOC). In addition, we investigated the clinical benefit of (90)Y-DOTATOC regarding the malignant carcinoid syndrome and tumor-associated pain. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients (mean age, 55 y) with progressive neuroendocrine gastroenteropancreatic and bronchial tumors were included. The treatment consisted of 4 equal intravenous injections of a total of 7.4 GBq/m(2) (90)Y-DOTATOC, administered at intervals of 6 wk. After each treatment cycle, a standardized clinical benefit assessment using the National Cancer Institute grading criteria (NCI-CTC) was performed. RESULTS: The objective response rate according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria was 23%. For endocrine pancreatic tumors (13 patients), the objective response rate was 38%. Complete remissions were found in 5% (2/39), partial remissions in 18% (7/39), stable disease in 69% (27/39), and progressive disease in 8% (3/39). A significant reduction of clinical symptoms could be found in 83% of patients with diarrhea, in 46% of patients with flush, in 63% of patients with wheezing, and in 75% of patients with pellagra. The overall clinical benefit was 63%. All responses (both clinical benefit and WHO response) were ongoing for the duration of follow-up (median, 6 mo; range, 2-12 mo). Side effects were grade 3 or 4 (NCI-CTC) lymphocytopenia in 23%, grade 3 anemia in 3%, and grade 2 renal insufficiency in 3%. CONCLUSION: High-dose targeted radiotherapy with 7.4 GBq/m(2) (90)Y-DOTATOC is a well-tolerated treatment for neuroendocrine tumors, with remarkable clinical benefit and objective response.

PET-measured responses of MBF to cold pressor testing correlate with indices of coronary vasomotion on quantitative coronary angiography.

UNLABELLED: The aims of this study were to determine whether responses in myocardial blood flow (MBF) to the cold pressor testing (CPT) method noninvasively with PET correlate with an established and validated index of flow-dependent coronary vasomotion on quantitative angiography. METHODS: Fifty-six patients (57 +/- 6 y; 16 with hypertension, 10 with hypercholesterolemia, 8 smokers, and 22 without coronary risk factors) with normal coronary angiograms were studied. Biplanar end-diastolic images of a selected proximal segment of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) (n = 27) or left circumflex artery (LCx) (n = 29) were evaluated with quantitative coronary angiography in order to determine the CPT-induced changes of epicardial luminal area (LA, mm(2)). Within 20 d of coronary angiography, MBF in the LAD, LCx, and right coronary artery territory was measured with (13)N-ammonia and PET at baseline and during CPT. RESULTS: CPT induced on both study days comparable percent changes in the rate x pressure product (%DeltaRPP, 37% +/- 13% and 40% +/- 17%; P = not significant [NS]). For the entire study group, the epicardial LA decreased from 5.07 +/- 1.02 to 4.88 +/- 1.04 mm(2) (DeltaLA, -0.20 +/- 0.89 mm(2)) or by -2.19% +/- 17%, while MBF in the corresponding epicardial vessel segment increased from 0.76 +/- 0.16 to 1.03 +/- 0.33 mL x min(-1) x g(-1) (DeltaMBF, 0.27 +/- 0.25 mL x min(-1) x g(-1)) or 36% +/- 31% (P

Myocardial viability in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy-evaluation by 3-D integration of myocardial scintigraphic data--and coronary angiographic data.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of viable myocardium in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and, to evaluate the value of three-dimensional (3-D) fusion imaging of myocardial scintigraphic and angiographic data to assign coronary artery lesions to the corresponding viable and nonviable myocardial territory. PROCEDURES: In 105 patients, the combination of perfusion and metabolic imaging with (201)thallium ((201)TI) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) determined viability in dysfunctional myocardium. In addition, the value of 3-D scintigraphic fusion imaging was assessed in these patients. RESULTS: Based on the presence of viable dysfunctional myocardium, 54% of patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy may be considered for coronary revascularization. In 31 of 105 patients, the 3-D fusion imaging was estimated to be helpful in the diagnostic and interpretative process. CONCLUSION: In patients with end-stage coronary artery disease scintigraphic imaging is most important in the decision-making process. Three-dimensional fusion imaging may add important information in approximately 30% of these patients.

Cerebral regional hypometabolism caused by propofol-induced sedation in children with severe myoclonic epilepsy: a study using fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and statistical parametric mapping.

Cerebral positron emission tomography (PET) in children often requires sedation. This study evaluated sedation-associated effects on cerebral glucose metabolism in 30 children with severe myoclonic epilepsy as investigated by cerebral (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET. Prior to the PET acquisition, 24 children underwent propofol sedation. Pixel-based t-statistics were calculated using statistical parametric mapping (SPM99) for comparisons of the patients' PET scans with both a healthy adult control group and an age-matched child intra-group control. In both analyses, statistically significant hypometabolic areas were found in the medial parieto-occipital cortex bilaterally, including the lingual gyrus, cuneus, posterior cingulate and middle occipital gyrus in all sedated children. All these localizations correlated in a covariate analysis with the injected dose of propofol (P<0.01, corrected). The bilateral parieto-occipital hypometabolism is likely to be a sedation-specific effect and should be taken into account when evaluating cerebral FDG-PET scans in sedated children.

Focal changes in diffusivity on apparent diffusion coefficient MR imaging and amino acid uptake on PET do not colocalize in nonenhancing low-grade gliomas.

UNLABELLED: Low-grade gliomas (LGGs) may harbor malignant foci, which are characterized by increased tumor cellularity and angiogenesis. We used diffusion-weighted MR imaging (apparent diffusion coefficient [ADC]) and PET with the amino acid O-(2-(18)F-fluorethyl)-L-tyrosine ((18)F-FET) to search for focal changes of diffusion (ADC) and amino acid uptake and to investigate whether focal changes in these parameters colocalize within LGGs. METHODS: We retrospectively selected 18 patients with nonenhancing LGG. All patients had undergone (18)F-FET PET and MR imaging for preoperative evaluation or for therapy monitoring in recurrent or progressive LGG. Region-of-interest analysis was performed to compare (18)F-FET uptake and ADC values in areas with focal intratumoral maximum metabolic activity and diffusion restriction and between tumor and normal brain. (18)F-FET uptake was normalized to the mean cerebellar uptake (ratio). ADC values were also compared with the (18)F-FET uptake on a voxel-by-voxel basis across the whole tumor. RESULTS: The mean focal maximum (mean ± SD, 1.69 ± 0.85) and global (18)F-FET uptake in tumors (1.14 ± 0.41) exceeded that of normal cortex (0.85 ± 0.09) and cerebrospinal fluid (0.82 ± 0.20). ADC values in the area with most restricted diffusion (1.07 ± 0.22 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s) and in the whole tumor (1.38 ± 0.27 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s) were in the range between normal cortex (0.73 ± 0.06 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s) and cerebrospinal fluid (2.84 ± 0.09 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s). (18)F-FET uptake did not correlate with corresponding (colocalizing) ADC values, either in the area with focal maximum metabolic activity or in the area with most restricted diffusion or in the whole tumor. CONCLUSION: There is no congruency between (18)F-FET uptake and diffusivity in nonenhancing LGG. Diffusion restriction in these tumors most likely represents changes in brain and tumor cell densities as well as alteration of water distribution and is probably not directly correlated with the density of tumor cells.

F-18 choline PET does not detect increased metabolism in F-18 fluoroethyltyrosine-negative low-grade gliomas.

PURPOSE: Positron emission tomography (PET) with radiolabeled amino acids provides information on biopsy target and chemotherapy response in patients with low-grade gliomas (LGG). In this article, we addressed whether PET with F-18 choline (CHO) detects increased metabolism in F-18 fluoroethyltyrosine (FET)-negative LGG patients. METHODS: Six LGG patients with nongadolinium-enhancing (magnetic resonance) FET-negative LGG were imaged with CHO PET. Regions of interest were positioned over tumor and contralateral brain. Uptake of FET and CHO was quantified as count ratio of tumor to contralateral brain. RESULTS: The mean FET uptake ratio for FET-negative LGG was 0.95 ± 0.03 (mean ± standard deviation). Five tumors did not show increased uptake ratios for CHO (0.96 ± 0.12). Slightly increased CHO uptake was found in 1 patient (1.24), which, however, was not associated with tumor visualization. CONCLUSIONS: Amino acid and choline uptake appear to behave similar in nongadolinium-enhancing LGG. For clinical purposes, CHO PET is not superior to FET PET.

The value of [18F]FDG-PET in the diagnosis of large-vessel vasculitis and the assessment of activity and extent of disease.

PURPOSE: This study was performed to investigate the value of( 18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ([(18)F]FDG-PET) in the diagnosis of large-vessel vasculitis and the assessment of activity and extent of disease. METHODS: Twenty-six consecutive patients (21 females, 5 males; median age - years, range 17-86 years) with giant cell arteritis or Takayasu's arteritis were examined with [(18)F]FDG-PET. Follow-up scans were performed in four patients. Twenty-six age- and gender-matched controls (21 females, 5 males; median age 71 years, range 17-86 years) were included. The severity of large-vessel [(18)F]FDG uptake was visually graded using a four-point scale. C-reactive protein (CRP) and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were measured and correlated with [(18)F]FDG-PET results by logistic regression. RESULTS: [(18)F]FDG-PET revealed pathological findings in 18 of 26 patients. Three scans were categorised as grade I, 12 as grade II and 3 as grade III arteritis. Visual grade was significantly correlated with both CRP and ESR levels (p=0.002 and 0.007 respectively; grade I: CRP 4.0 mg/l, ESR 6 mm/h; grade II: CRP 37 mg/l, ESR 46 mm/h; grade III: CRP 172 mg/l, ESR 90 mm/h). Overall sensitivity was 60% (95% CI 40.6-77.3%), specificity 99.8% (95% CI 89.1-100%), positive predictive value 99.7% (95% CI 77-100%), negative predictive value 67.9% (95% CI 49.8-80.9%) and accuracy 78.6% (95% CI 65.6-88.4%). In patients presenting with a CRP <12 mg/l or an ESR <12 mm/h, logistic regression revealed a sensitivity of less than 50%. In patients with high CRP/ESR levels, sensitivity was 95.5%/80.7%. CONCLUSION: [(18)F]FDG-PET is highly effective in assessing the activity and the extent of large-vessel vasculitis. Visual grading was validated as representing the severity of inflammation. Its use is simple and provides high specificity, while high sensitivity is achieved by scanning in the state of active inflammation.

SMART-PET: multimodality white matter imaging and display without loss of quantitative information.

PURPOSE: To improve analysis of cerebral white matter (WM) in fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography (PET) images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multimodality analysis technique (segmented MRI and registered Talairach-transformed PET [SMART-PET]) was used for quantitative assessment of WM metabolism. Data processing included Talairach transformation of three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and subsequent automated segmentation and coregistration to normalized PET images. Color model transformations were used for combined display: the hue saturation value color model was regarded as a three-dimensional data matrix, integrating quantitative voxel data of both modalities. The technique was applied in normal subjects and in patients suffering from different WM diseases. Regional analysis was performed to classify metabolic impairment on a five-point scale. RESULTS: Using SMART-PET, a considerable gain in image contrast for WM was achieved in all cases. In the normal subjects, WM metabolism was shown to be homogeneously unimpaired. Sum scores of regional analysis revealed metabolic WM changes in all patients. Extent of WM hypometabolism exceeded the extent of the lesions as delineated by MRI signal changes. CONCLUSION: The potential of the method for further elucidation of the role of WM diseases in brain dysfunction in patients is discussed.

3D-Cardiac-PET. A Recommendable Clinical Alternative to 2D-Cardiac-PET?

The objective of this study was to test the clinical practicability of a 3D-cardiac-positron emission tomography(PET) procedure. During preoperative viability diagnostics of the myocardium with fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose(18F-FDG)PET, comparative recordings were made in 2D (ECAT Exact) and 3D Mode (Quest). Ten patients (2 women, 8 men, ages 34-72 years) with coronary artery disease and a known myocardial infarction in the history were examined. Both examinations were made on the same day following single FDG injection. In 9 of the 10 cases, 3 independent examiners arrived at the same diagnoses from the 2D and 3D recordings, whereby only one-third the activity used for 2D exposures was required for 3D acquisition. In one case, the 3D recording showed no accumulation around the anterior wall near the apex, in spite of demonstrated, albeit limited, viability in the 2D mode. The cause of this discrepant finding is assumed to lie in equipment/uptake and patient-related differences in the test configuration. In summary, 3D acquisition offers a promising alternative to 2D recordings in the viability diagnostics of the myocardium based on a considerable reduction in radiation exposure for patients and personnel, as well as reduction in the costs for radiopharmaceuticals. Further evaluation of the method in broader studies would appear necessary.

Non-invasive differentiation of pancreatic lesions: is analysis of FDG kinetics superior to semiquantitative uptake value analysis?

The diagnostic utility of fluorine-18 2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) for the non-invasive differentiation of focal pancreatic lesions originating from cancer or chronic pancreatitis by combined visual image interpretation and semiquantitative uptake value analysis has been documented. However, in clinical routine some misdiagnosis is still observed. This is because there is potential overlap between the semiquantitative uptake values obtained for active inflammatory lesions and cancer. Therefore, this prospective study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that analysis of dynamic kinetics of focal pancreatic lesions based on FDG PET may more accurately determine the benign or malignant nature of such lesions. Thirty patients (56+/-17 years) were studied dynamically with FDG PET for a period of 60-90 min. Patients were assigned to one of four groups: control, acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer. Two observers, blinded to the clinical data, analysed the time-activity curves of FDG kinetics based on region of interest analysis. The diagnosis predicted by FDG PET was compared with the result of histological examination of the surgical specimen. Analysis of FDG kinetics revealed significant differences in the shape of the time-activity curve for controls, pancreatic cancer and inflammatory disease. Surprisingly, there was no significant difference in the time-activity curve shape for chronic pancreatitis and acute pancreatitis; this is, however, not a clinical issue. Furthermore, acquisition time (60 min vs 90 min) did not affect interpretation of the time-activity curve, so that scanning time may be regularly shortened to 60 min. Interobserver agreement was 1. Based on these findings, non-invasive differentiation between pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis was correctly predicted in all cases, as confirmed by histology. In addition, the specificity was increased compared with that obtained from standardised uptake value analysis. Non-invasive differentiation between pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis may best be achieved based on a dynamic FDG PET study including kinetic analysis. This approach yields results superior to those obtained from a semiquantitative analysis of pancreatic lesions.

Selective axillary surgery in breast cancer patients based on positron emission tomography with 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose: not yet!

We prospectively evaluated 31 patients with invasive breast cancer. Preoperative positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18F-FDG) for detection of axillary lymph node metastases was compared with the histopathologic status of the sentinel lymph node (SLN). Sensitivity of PET imaging was 43%, specificity and negative predictive value were 94 and 67%, respectively. The smallest metastasis detected by PET measured 3 mm in diameter. The results of this study suggest that detection of small axillary lymph node metastases is limited by the currently achievable spatial resolution of PET imaging. Selective axillary surgery in breast cancer patients based on 18F-FDG PET is yet not possible.

High social desirability and prefrontal cortical activity in cancer patients: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Social desirability is sometimes associated with poor prognosis in cancer patients. Psycho-neuro-immune interaction has been hypothesized as an underlying mechanism of the negative clinical outcome. Purpose of this study was to examine possible effects of high social desirability on the regional brain activity in patients with malignant diseases. MATERIAL/METHODS: Brain metabolism of 16 patients with various malignant diseases was measured by PET with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). Patients were divided into 2 groups using median split on Marlowe & Crown's Social Desirability Scale (MC), controlling for age, gender, and for severity of depression and anxiety, the possible two major influential factors. A group comparison of the regional cerebral activity was calculated on a voxel-by-voxel basis using statistical parametric mapping (SPM). RESULTS: The subgroup comparison showed that the high social desirability was associated with relatively increased metabolism in the cortical regions in the prefrontal, temporal and occipital lobes as well as in the anterior cingulate gyrus. CONCLUSIONS: High social desirability seems to be associated with increased activity in the prefrontal and other cortical areas. The finding is in an accordance with previous studies that demonstrated an association between prefrontal damage and anti-social behavior. Functional neuroimaging seems to be useful not only for psychiatric evaluation of major factors such as depression and anxiety but also for further psychosocial factors in cancer patients.