The contribution of PET/CT to the differentiation of benign and malignant pleural effusion in patients with ovarian carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The present study investigates the ability of non-invasive contribution of positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) to distinguish between benign pleural effusions (BPE) and malignant pleural effusions (MPE) in patients diagnosed with ovarian carcinoma (OC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Included in the study were 32 OC patients with a PE diagnosis. The cases with BPE and MPE were compared in terms of the PE maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), PE SUVmax/mean standardized uptake (SUVmean) value of the mediastinal blood pool (TBRp), the presence of pleural thickening, the presence of supradiaphragmatic lymph node, unilateral or bilateral PE, pleural effusion diameter, patient age and CA125 value. RESULTS: The mean age of the 32 patients was 57±2.8 years. TBRp>1.1, pleural thickening and supradiaphragmatic lymph node were observed significantly more frequently in the MPE than the BPE cases. While no pleural nodules were detected in patients with BPE, they were present in 7 of the patients with MPE. The rates of distinction between the MPE and BPE cases were as follows: the sensitivity of the TBRp value was 95.2% and specificity was 72.7%; the sensitivity of pleural thickness was 80.9% and specificity was 81.8%; the sensitivity of supradiaphragmatic lymph node was 38% and specificity was 90.9%; and the sensitivity of the pleural nodule was 33.3% and specificity was 100%. There were no significant differences between two groups in any other factors. CONCLUSIONS: Pleural thickening and TBRp values ascertained through PET/CT may aid the distinction between MPE-BPE, especially in patients with advanced stage OC with a poor general condition, or those who cannot undergo surgery.

Clinical value of metabolic PET parameters of primary vulvar carcinoma.

PURPOSE: We aim to establish the prognostic value of metabolic parameters of the primary tumor in patients diagnosed with vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) who underwent a pretreatment F-18 FDG PET/CT scan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 47 patients with a histopathologically confirmed diagnosis of VSCC, and who underwent a F-18 FDG PET/CT scan prior to treatment. The disease stage and age at diagnosis, and the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), SUVmean, metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) values of the primary tumor, based on a baseline PET scan, were recorded. The relationship between these factors, and progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was evaluated. RESULTS: The mean age of the 47 study patients was 69.6±1.9 years. Among the patients, 18 were in early stage of the disease and 29 were in the advanced stage. The age, and SUVmax, SUVmean, MTV and TLG values were statistically significantly associated with OS and PFS. Furthermore, it was noted that OS and PFS were significantly longer in the early stage patients than in the advanced stage patients, in patients with a tumor size <4cm than those with a tumor size ≥4cm, and in patients with a negative lymph node metastasis than those with a positive lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that PET parameters are prognostic factors for VSCC. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the prognostic value of the PET parameters of primary tumors in patients with VSCC, and as such, we believe it contributes to literature.

PET/CT Parameters are Useful in Discrimination of Incidental Benign, Premalignant and Malignant Colonic Lesions.

AIM: The present study evaluates the role of PET parameters pertaining to incidentally detected foci of colorectal uptake (IFCU) on FDG PET/CT in the differentiation of benign, premalignant and malignant lesions. METHODS: This retrospective study included 74 patients. The colonoscopic and histopathological findings were regarded as the reference standards. The results were evaluated on a lesion basis by dividing the lesions into three groups as benign, premalignant and malignant. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), SUVmean, metabolic tumor volume(MTV) and total lesion glycolysis(TLG) values of the three groups were compared. RESULTS: There were 88 IFCU in a total of 74 patients (27 female, 47 male, mean age 65 years). Of the 88 IFCU, 26 were qualified as benign, 42 as premalignant and 20 as malignant. Malignant + premalignant lesions were found in 62/88 (70.4 %) of the IFCU. The SUVmax of the benign lesions was significantly lower than those of the premalignant and malignant lesions; and SUVmean was lower than that of the malignant lesions. The MTV of the malignant lesions was significantly higher than that of the premalignant and benign lesions; and TLG was higher than that of the premalignant lesions. The optimum cut-off value in differentiating between the malignant and non-malignant lesions was 9.15 for SUVmax, 5.05 for SUVmean, 4.7 for MTV and 30.25 for TLG. CONCLUSION: PET parameters can guide the differentiation of benign, premalignant and malignant lesions with IFCU. Besides, patients with IFCU should undergo further evaluation due to high probability of premalignant and malignant lesions.

The value of PET/CT in determining lymph node metastasis of endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVES: In our study, the role of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-18 FDG PET/CT) in determining lymph node metastasis of endometrial cancer was evaluated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present retrospectively registered study included 80 patients with endometrial cancer who underwent PET/CT in preoperative period. The patients underwent total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and lymph node dissection. Lymph node status was evaluated in histopathologic examination and PET/CT imaging and, the results were compared. RESULTS: There were 80 patients (mean age 62 years) in the present study. Lymph node metastasis was detected in five patients, whereas 75 patients had no lymph node metastasis. A total of 1,471 lymph nodes were examined histopathologically, revealing benign findings in 1,433 (pelvic = 1018, paraaortic = 415) and malignant findings in 38 (pelvic = 28, paraaortic = 10) lymph nodes. The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of PET/CT in determining lymph node metastasis was 95%, 80% and 96% in patient-based evaluation, and 97.4%, 78.9% and 98.6% in lymph node-based evaluation, respectively. The detection sensitivity of PET/CT was 0%, 81.4% and 100% in metastatic lymph nodes with a short diameter of ≤ 4 mm, 5-9 mm and ≥ 10 mm, respectively. PET/CT could detect 73.3% of metastatic lymph nodes that had < 10 mm short diameter. CONCLUSIONS: PET/CT is useful method in detecting lymph node metastasis especially that are disregarded by CT or MR in endometrial cancer. Although PET/CT doesn't fully replace the surgical staging, its utilization in preoperative period may guide surgical procedure.

Prognostic role of PET/CT in endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVES: The present study evaluates the prognostic value of metabolic parameters related to the primary tumor identifiedin preoperative fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) scans inpatients with endometrial cancer (EC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included 120 patients with EC who underwent PET/CT in the preoperative period. Thepatients' age, maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), SUVmean, metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and the totallesion glycolysis (TLG) value of the primary tumor on PET/CT; as well as the stage, histological subtype, grade and size ofthe primary EC; the degree of myometrial invasion (MI) cervical invasion (CI), lymphovascular invasion (LVI), lymph nodemetastasis (LNM) and distant metastasis (DM) were all recorded. The relationship of these factors with progression-freesurvival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was evaluated. RESULTS: The study included 120 patients with EC with a mean age of 62.3 ± 0.02 years. Of the total, 32 patients diedaround the time of the analysis and 38 patients showed disease progression. The mean OS was 32.7 ± 1.6 months and themean PFS was 30.5 ± 2.8 months. No significant relationship was identified between the SUVmax, SUVmean, MTV, TLGvalues, patient age, tumor size, histology, grade and MI degree, and OS or PFS. Disease stage, LVI, CI, LNM and DM wereidentified as prognostic factors for OS and PFS. CONCLUSIONS: The present study found no significant relationship between preoperative PET parameters in EC and OS andPFS, although prospective studies involving a larger number of patients are required.

The role of positron emission tomography/computed tomography in the evaluation of anterior mediastinal masses and differentiating between the histological subtypes of thymic epithelial neoplasms.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the role of positron emission tomography/computed tomography in differentiating between benign and malignant anterior mediastinal masses and between the histological subtypes of thymic epithelial neoplasms. METHODS: This retrospective study included a total of 57 patients (30 males, 27 females; mean age 48.9 years; range, 14 to 78 years) who underwent an fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/ computed tomography with an indication of an anterior mediastinal mass between May 2010 and November 2018. The maximum and mean standardized uptake values, metabolic tumor volume, total lesion glycolysis, and mean Hounsfield units of the lesions were determined. Thymic epithelial neoplasms were classified as low-risk thymomas (A, AB, B1), high-risk thymomas (B2, B3), and thymic carcinomas. All lesions were evaluated together and divided into two groups as benign and malignant, and positron emission tomography/computed tomography parameters of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: Histopathological examination identified 29 thymic epithelial neoplasms (13 low-risk, 14 high-risk, two thymic carcinomas), 13 benign lesions, and 15 malignant lesions. No significant correlation was identified between the positron emission tomography/computed tomography parameters and histological subtype of thymic epithelial neoplasms. There was no significant difference in the maximum and mean standardized uptake values, metabolic tumor volume, total lesion glycolysis, and mean Hounsfield units of the lesions between low-risk and high-risk thymic carcinomas. The maximum and mean standardized uptake values, metabolic tumor volume, and mean Hounsfield units of the lesions were significantly higher in the malignant group than in the benign group. CONCLUSION: Our study results show that positron emission tomography/ computed tomography is useful in the differentiation of benign and malignant anterior mediastinal masses, although it fails to differentiate between the histological subtypes of thymic epithelial neoplasms.

The prognostic significance of serum CA125 levels with ER, PR, P53 and Ki-67 expression in endometrial carcinomas.

OBJECTIVES: The present study evaluates the relationship between the expression levels of hormone receptors (HRs), Ki-67, p53 and serum cancer antigen 125 (CA125) levels in endometrial cancer and clinicopathological risk factors, and determines their prognostic values. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 49 patients with endometrial cancer whose estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) Ki-67 and p53 expression levels were determined through immunohistochemical methods, and whose preoperative serum CA125 levels were measured. These factors relationship with various clinicopathological factors, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was investigated. RESULTS: The study included 49 patients with EC with a mean age of 61 ± 10 years. The rate of HR positivity was significantly higher in the endometrioid histology group than in the non-endometroid histology group (p = 0.026). A high level of Ki- 67 expression was found to be associated with a non-endometroid histology (p = 0.016), and a high tumor grade (p < 0.001) and a high p53 expression were found to be associated with advanced disease stage (p = 0.026). A positive correlation was found between p53 and Ki-67, a negative correlation was found between p53 and Ki-67 and the presence of HR. Significant relationship was not found between HR status, p53, Ki-67, CA125 and either other clinicopathological risk factors or survival. CONCLUSIONS: While HR positivity indicates favorable clinicopathological prognostic factors, high Ki-67 and high p53 expression indicate unfavorable ones. However, no direct effect of these factors on prognosis was found in this study.

Recurrence Incidence in Differentiated Thyroid Cancers and the Importance of Diagnostic Iodine-131 Scintigraphy in Clinical Follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: Differentiated thyroid cancers (DTC) are tumors with good prognosis. However, local recurrence or distant metastasis can be observed. In our study, we aimed to investigate the incidence of recurrence and the importance of diagnostic iodine-131 whole body scan (WBS) in clinical follow-up in patients with DTC. METHODS: The clinical data of 217 patients with DTC who were followed-up more than 3 years were reviewed retrospectively. The incidence of recurrence was investigated in a group of patients who had radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment and showed no sign of residual thyroid tissue or metastasis with diagnostic WBS that was performed at 6-12 months after therapy and had a thyroglobulin (Tg) level lower than 2 ng/dl. RESULTS: At the time of diagnosis, ten cases had thyroid capsule invasion, 25 cases had extra-thyroid soft tissue invasion, 11 patients showed lymph node metastasis and four patients had distant organ metastasis. One hundred forty-five patients had RAI treatment at ablation dose (75-100 mCi), whereas 35 patients had RAI treatment at metastasis dose (150-200 mCi). Thirty-seven patients with papillary microcarcinoma did not receive RAI treatment. In 12 (%7.5) of the 160 patients who were considered as "successful ablation", a recurrence was identified. Recurrence was detected by diagnostic WBS in all cases and stimulated Tg level was <2 ng/dL with the exception of the two cases who had distant metastasis. CONCLUSION: Identification of pathological findings with WBS in patients who developed local recurrence in the absence of elevated Tg highlights the importance of diagnostic WBS in clinical follow-up.