A 66-year-old woman with newly diagnosed oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer

A 66-year-old woman presented with newly diagnosed stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and a large adrenal metastasis. She initially had flu-like symptoms and dyspnea and was found to have a right upper lobe (RUL) lung nodule. Chest CT showed a 1.4-cm spiculated RUL lung nodule, peripheral right lung nodule, right perihilar mass, and 10.9-cm left adrenal mass. PET/CT showed enhancement of the RUL nodule, hilar mass, and left adrenal mass. She presented for evaluation of treatment options. This case was thought to represent an instance of oligometastatic stage IV NSCLC. Literature suggests that a select patient population with otherwise resectable disease may benefit from surgical resection of a lung primary and the isolated metastasis with improved survival. This seems to be most effective in patients who have undergone a complete staging evaluation with PET scan; CT of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis; and a brain MRI revealing T1-2, N0-1, M-oligo disease. This radical approach should be reserved for patients with potentially curative disease based on the staging evaluation and who are otherwise good surgical candidates.     

非小细胞肺癌纵膈淋巴结影像学分期的研究

目的：评估常见影像学检查对NSCLC纵膈淋巴结分期的准确性及价值。方法：56例经手术和病理检查确诊的NSCLC,术前患经胸部CT扫描、全身^18F—FDG PET显像和经食管超声检查,并对手术病理结果进行回颐性的分析：结果：所有56例NSCLC患肺部及相应转移部位^18F-FDG摄取增高,PET检查对预测NSCLC纵膈淋巴结转移的灵敏度为84％,特异性为90％,CT扫描纵膈淋巴结转移的灵敏度为57％,特异性为82％,其中38例行经食管超声解剖显像纵膈淋巴结转移的灵敏度为76％,特异性为70％.PET对NSCLC纵膈淋巴结转移的预测优于胸部CT解剖显像和经食管超声解剖显像。结论：应用^18F—FDG PET在对NSCLC的术前分期明显优于CT和经食管超声等常规检查,但PET在精确定位方面仍然需要结合解剖显像检查,PET—CT等图像融合技术等是今后发展的方向。     

Prospective evaluation of unilateral adrenal masses in patients with operable non-small-cell lung cancer.

Although adrenal metastases are frequently noted with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at autopsy, their incidence in patients with operable NSCLC is unclear. We prospectively assessed consecutive patients with otherwise operable NSCLC for the incidence and histology of unilateral adrenal masses. Assessment included blood chemistries, lung function tests, bronchoscopy, chest x-ray, bone scan, and computed tomography (CT) of the head, chest, and upper abdomen. Of 246 patients with otherwise operable NSCLC, 10 (4.1%) had a unilateral adrenal mass. Unilateral adrenal masses were needle-aspirated under CT control. If cytology was nondiagnostic, adrenalectomy was performed. Four (40%) of 10 patients had adrenal metastases proven by needle aspiration. Of the six (60%) patients with benign unilateral adrenal masses, one was demonstrated by needle aspiration. In the other five patients, a nondiagnostic needle aspiration led to adrenalectomy, which yielded two adenomas, two hyperplastic nodules, and one hemorrhagic cyst. There was no significant difference between the patients with benign and metastatic unilateral adrenal masses with respect to patient age or stage and size of adrenal mass. Patients with benign unilateral adrenal masses underwent curative resection of their NSCLC and had significantly prolonged survival compared with patients with metastatic unilateral adrenal masses treated with chemotherapy (P = .037). Median survival of patients with benign and metastatic unilateral adrenal masses was greater than 30 months and 9 months, respectively. In conclusion, the presence of unilateral adrenal masses in patients with otherwise operable NSCLC should not preclude thoracotomy without pathologic proof of metastatic disease.     

The integration of 18-fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography and endoscopic ultrasound in the treatment-planning process for esophageal carcinoma

PURPOSE: Accurate delineation of the gross tumor volume (GTV) is important in radiation therapy treatment planning. We evaluated the impact of PET and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) compared with CT simulation in the planning of radiation fields for patients with esophageal carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients presenting with esophageal carcinoma for radiation therapy underwent PET scans in the treatment position after conventional CT simulation. Patients underwent PET/CT scanning after being injected with 10 to 20 mCi of [F-18]-2-deoxy-2-fluro-D-glucose. The length of the abnormality seen on the CT portion of the PET/CT scan vs. the PET scan alone was determined independently by 2 separate investigators. The length of the GTV and detection of regional adenopathy by PET was also correlated with EUS in 18 patients. Of the 18 patients who had EUS, 2 had T2 tumors and 16 had T3 tumors. Eighteen patients had adenocarcinoma and 7 had squamous cell carcinoma. Nine tumors were located at the gastroesophageal junction, 8 at the lower esophagus, 7 in the middle esophagus, and 1 in the cervical esophagus. The PET scans were reviewed to determine the length of the abnormality by use of a standard uptake value (SUV) of 2.5 to delineate the tumor extent. RESULTS: The mean length of the cancer was 5.4 cm (95% CI 4.4-6.4 cm) as determined by PET scan, 6.77 cm (95% CI, 5.6-7.9 cm) as determined by CT scan, and 5.1 cm (95% CI, 4.0-6.1 cm) for the 22 patients who had endoscopy. The length of the tumors was significantly longer as measured by CT scans compared with PET scans (p = 0.0063). EUS detected significantly more patients with periesophageal and celiac lymphadenopathy compared to PET and CT. The SUV of the esophageal tumors was higher in patients with peri-esophageal lymphadenopathy identified on PET scans. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic ultrasound and PET scans can add additional information to aid the radiation oncologist's ability to precisely identify the GTV in patients with esophageal carcinoma.     

18FDG PET/CT对非小细胞肺癌N2期淋巴结诊断的价值

目的:通过对18FDG PET/CT、CT对非小细胞肺癌N2期纵隔淋巴结的诊断与术后病理结果比较,探讨18FDG PET/CT对N2期淋巴结的诊断价值。方法:72例原发NSCLC患者共切除纵隔N2期淋巴结280枚,回顾性分析术前CT及18FDG PET/CT检查对纵隔N2期淋巴结的诊断结果,并与病理结果分别进行对比分析。结果:175枚N2期淋巴结CT诊断阳性,其诊断的敏感度、特异度、准确度、阳性预测值及阴性预测值分别为:74.0%、50%、62.5%、61.7%及63.8%;而172枚N2期淋巴结18FDG PET/CT诊断阳性,其诊断的敏感度、特异度、准确度、阳性预测值及阴性预测值分别为:89.0%、68.7%、79.3%、75.6%及85.2%,均明显优于CT（P＜0.05）。而105例短径<10 mm的纵隔淋巴结中,36.2%（38/105）为转移淋巴结,18FDG PET/CT对CT诊断阴性的纵隔淋巴结的诊断敏感度、特异度、准确度、阳性及阴性预测值分别为:86.8%、88.1%、87.6%、80.5%及92.2%;其中高代谢的N2期小淋巴结主要分布于2R、4R/L、7组:36.4%（12/33）、27.3%（9/33）、36.4%（12/33）。结论:18FDG PET/CT对肺癌N2期纵隔淋巴结的诊断价值明显优于CT,尤其对于纵隔内短径<10 mm淋巴结转移的诊断具有明显优势。     

Whole-body F-18-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging in the follow-up of metastatic uveal melanoma

Metastasis has been reported in the follow-up of up to 50% of uveal melanoma patients. Established oncological diagnostic modalities in tumor follow-up so far have limited sensitivity and specificity. The diagnostic value of combined positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) scans in the follow-up of patients with metastatic uveal melanoma was assessed. Eleven patients with successfully treated and one patient with suspected uveal melanoma underwent combined PET/CT scan. The indication for PET/CT scan was heterogenous and ranged from suspected metastatic choroidal melanoma in conventional imaging (n=3) to exclusion of further organ involvement before local therapy of liver metastases (n=5) and restaging after local or systemic therapy of metastases (n=4). PET/CT scan showed vital metastases from uveal melanoma in all patients (n=12). Ten patients showed vital hepatic metastases (83%), five osseous (42%), four lymphatic (33%), two pulmonary (17%), one adrenal (8%) and one had muscular metastases (8%). Six patients showed multiple organ involvement (50%). In addition, PET/CT scan correctly identified a primary intraocular tumor and ruled out pulmonary metastatic involvement with suspicious intrapulmonary findings in a CT scan and chest X-ray in two patients. It could also confirm an equivocal intrahepatic finding in an MRI scan as a vital metastasis. PET/CT scan is a very sensitive and specific tool for the detection and localization of metastatic disease in patients with uveal melanoma, assessing both anatomical morphology and cell metabolism in one single examination. With novel therapeutic approaches in evolution, PET/CT scanning can be of great importance for therapy planning and monitoring.     

Clinical impact of (18)F fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer: a prospective study.

PURPOSE: To prospectively study the impact of (18)F fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) on clinical management of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred five consecutive patients with NSCLC undergoing (18)F FDG PET were analyzed. Before PET, referring physicians recorded scan indication, conventional clinical stage, and proposed treatment plan. PET scan results were reported in conjunction with available clinical and imaging data, including results of computed tomography (CT). Subsequent management and appropriateness of PET-induced changes were assessed by follow-up for at least 6 months or until the patient's death. RESULTS: Indications for PET were primary staging (n = 59), restaging (n = 34), and suspected malignancy subsequently proven to be NSCLC (n = 12). In 27 (26%) of 105 of cases, PET results led to a change from curative to palliative therapy by upstaging disease extent. Validity of the PET result was established in all but one case. PET appropriately downstaged 10 of 16 patients initially planned for palliative therapy, allowing either potentially curative treatment (four patients) or no treatment (six patients). PET influenced the radiation delivery in 22 (65%) of 34 patients who subsequently received radical radiotherapy. Twelve patients considered probably inoperable on conventional imaging studies were downstaged by PET and underwent potentially curative surgery. PET missed only one primary tumor (5-mm scar carcinoma). CT and PET understaged three of 20 surgical patients (two with N1 lesions < 5 mm and one with unrecognized atrial involvement), and PET missed one small intrapulmonary metastasis apparent on CT. No pathological N2 disease was missed on PET. CONCLUSION: FDG PET scanning changed or influenced management decisions in 70 patients (67%) with NSCLC. Patients were frequently spared unnecessary treatment, and management was more appropriately targeted.     

Towards a minimally invasive staging strategy in NSCLC: analysis of PET positive mediastinal lesions by EUS-FNA

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To asses the value of endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in the nodal staging of patients with (suspected) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and a (18)FDG positron emission tomography (PET) scan suspect for N2/N3 mediastinal lymph node (MLN) metastases. BACKGROUND: Due to the imperfect specificity of positron emission tomography, PET positive MLN should be biopsied in order to confirm or rule out metastasis. Currently, invasive surgical diagnostic techniques such as mediastinoscopy/-tomy are standard procedures to obtain MLN tissue. The minimally invasive technique of EUS-FNA has a high diagnostic accuracy (90-94%) for the analysis of MLN in patients with enlarged MLN on computed tomography of the chest (CT). DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Thirty-six patients with proven n=26 or suspected n=10 non-small cell lung cancer and a PET scan suspect for N2/N3 lymph node metastases underwent EUS-FNA. When EUS-FNA did not confirm metastasis and the PET lesion was within reach of mediastinoscopy, a mediastinoscopy was performed. EUS-FNA negative patients with PET lesions beyond the reach of mediastinoscopy or those with a negative mediastinoscopy were referred for surgical resection of the tumour and MLN sampling or dissection. RESULTS: EUS-FNA confirmed N2/N3 disease in 25 of the 36 patients (69%) and was highly suspicious in one. In the remaining 10 patients, one PET positive and one PET negative N2 metastasis was detected at thoracotomy. The PPV, NPV, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of EUS-FNA in analysing PET positive MLN were 100%, 80%, 93%, 100% and 94%, respectively. No complications of EUS-FNA were recorded. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: EUS-FNA yields minimally invasive confirmation of MLN metastases in 69% of the patients with potential mediastinal involvement at FDG PET. The combination of PET and EUS-FNA might qualify as a minimally invasive staging strategy for NSCLC.     

18F-FDGPET—CT诊断NSCLC骨转移中的应用价值

目的评价18F—FDGPET—CT在检测NSCLC骨转移中的应用价值。方法回顾性分析18F-FDGPET．CT扫描的NSCLC患者362例,按颈椎、胸椎、腰椎、骶尾椎、骨盆、肩胛骨和锁骨、长骨、胸骨、肋骨及颅骨将机体骨骼分为10个区域,比较同机CT、PET及PET—CT诊断骨转移的敏感性、特异性及准确率。结果共有82例患者的331个区域被确诊为骨转移。PET—CT诊断NSCLC患者骨转移的敏感性、特异性和准确率分别为93．9％,98．9％和97．8％,高于同机CT和PET的74．4％,90．7％,87．0％和84．1％,93．2％,91．2％（P均〈0．05）。PET—CT诊断病灶骨转移的敏感性、特异性和准确性分别为98．8％、98．6％和98．7％,显著高于同机CT的79．5％、87．9％、84．5％和PET的94．3％、89．2％、91．2％,P均〈0．05。结论18F-FDGPET—CT在诊断NSCLC骨转移中优于同机CT和18F—FDGPET,对NSCLC的临床分期及治疗计划确定具有重要价值。     

Significance of Brain Imaging for Staging in Patients With Clinical Stage T1-2 N0 Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer on Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography

BackgroundRoutine positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has been recommended even for clinical stage I non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In spite of the progress in the screening procedure, and revisions to TNM classification, there is no evidence to support brain imaging screening of patients assessed with the current staging protocol including PET/CT.Materials and MethodsWe retrospectively investigated the frequency of extrathoracic metastasis in 466 consecutive patients with clinical stage T1-2 N0 NSCLC with the complete staging assessment comprised of thin-section CT, PET/CT, and brain contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging between 2008 and 2016. All patients were reclassified according to the eighth edition of the tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) classification.ResultsAmong all patients, 70% of the tumors were pure solid and 30% had part-solid ground-glass opacity on thin-section CT, and 388 (83%) and 78 (17%) were classified into clinical stages T1 and T2, respectively. Eight patients (1.7%) had extrathoracic metastasis, including 3 (0.6%) with brain metastasis, and all showed pure-solid tumors. The frequency of extrathoracic and brain metastasis was 1.0% and 0.5% in 388 T1 patients, and 5.0% and 3.0% in 78 T2 patients. Although brain metastases were detected in 2 of 7 patients (29%) with PET/CT detectable extrathoracic metastases and 1 of 459 patients (0.2%) without PET/CT detectable extrathoracic metastasis, there were no neurologically asymptomatic brain metastases in patients with early-stage NSCLC confirmed by PET/CT.ConclusionRoutine screening of brain imaging is unnecessary in patients with early-stage NSCLC, assessed with the current staging protocol including PET/CT.     

Stage Migration in Planning PET/CT Scans in Patients Due to Receive Radiotherapy for Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

IntroductionThis study examined rates of tumor progression in treatment-naive patients with non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as determined by repeat treatment-planning fluorine-18 (¹⁸F) fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT).Methods and MaterialsThis study assessed patients who underwent PET/CT simulation for NSCLC stage II/III, radiation-naive, nonmetastatic NSCLC. It compared planning PET/CT with previous PET/CT images. Patients were analyzed for change in stage, treatment intent, or both. Progression was defined as a change in TNM status leading to upstaging, and standardized uptake value (SUV) velocity was defined as [(SUV_scan2 − SUV_scan1)/interscan interval in days].ResultsOf 149 consecutive patients examined between April 2009 and April 2011, 47 had prior PET/CT scans and were included. The median age was 68 years. New nodal disease or metastatic disease was identified in 24 (51%) of 47 patients. Fourteen (30%) had evidence of extrathoracic metastatic disease; the remaining 10 (21%) had new nodal disease that required substantial alteration of treatment fields. At a scan interval of 20 days, the rate of upstaging was 17%. SUV velocity was analyzed in the subset of patients who had their studies on the identical PET/CT scanner (n = 14). Nonupstaged patients had a mean SUV velocity of 0.074 units per day, compared with 0.11 units per day in patients that were upstaged by their second PET/CT scan (P = .020).ConclusionRadiation treatment planning with hybrid PET/CT scans repeated within 120 days of an initial staging PET/CT scan identified significant upstaging in more than half of patients. For a subset of patients who underwent both scans on the same instrument, SUV velocity predicts upstaging, and the difference between those upstaged and those not was statistically significant.     

Can Positron Emission Tomography Be Used as a Staging Tool for Small-Cell Lung Cancer?

PURPOSE: Positron emission tomography (PET) is widely used for the staging evaluation of non-small-cell lung cancer; however, its use in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) remains investigational. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We did a retrospective study of 137 patients to evaluate the role of PET in SCLC. Fifty-one of 137 patients had computed tomography (CT) and PET scans during initial evaluation of a lung mass. RESULTS: All 51 patients had PET-positive results for malignancy (100% sensitivity). In 40 of 51 cases (78%), the PET staging correlated with that on CT. Two of 51 patients (4%) had disease that was accurately upstaged by PET. Positron emission tomography accurately downstaged disease in 6 of 51 patients (12%). Positron emission tomography detected additional sites of disease in 13 of 42 patients (32%). Of the 13 additional sites of disease, PET detected supraclavicular nodes in 4 of 13 patients (30%) and bone lesions in 4 of 13 patients (30%). The sensitivity to detect brain lesions was 5 of 11 patients (45%) in this series. In this series, the PET results from 8 of 51 patients (16%) resulted in a change in disease management. Because of PET results, 6 of 51 patients (12%) who otherwise would not have been treated, were treated with radiation. CONCLUSION: Positron emission tomography is potentially useful for accurate initial staging of SCLC and can ensure that a patient's disease is not overstaged by CT scan, which might result in denied potentially curative treatment for limited-stage SCLC. It can identify the occult adrenal metastasis and metastasis to supraclavicular lymph nodes that are missed by CT; however, brain lesions are difficult to assess by PET.     

18F-FDG PET/CT显像在胃癌诊断中的应用

[目的]评价18F-FDG PET/CT显像在胃癌诊断中的应用.[方法]49例经胃镜和病理确诊的胃癌患者进行18F-FDG PET/CT显像,其诊断结果与病理学检查、其他影像学检查及临床随访比较.[结果] 49例患者18F-FDG PET/CT阳性44例,阳性率89.8％;39例有淋巴结转移患者中18F-FDGPET/CT显像发现32例,灵敏度为82.1％(32/39); 12例有远处转移患者中18F-FDG PET/CT显像发现11例,灵敏度91.6％(11/12).[结论]18F-FDG PET/CT显像对胃癌原发灶、淋巴结转移和远处转移具有较高的灵敏度,18F-FDG PET/CT显像在胃癌诊断中具有较高的临床价值.     

Fine-needle aspiration cytology of adrenal masses in noncancer patients: clinicoradiologic and histologic correlations in functioning and nonfunctioning tumors.

BACKGROUND: Image-guided, fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is performed currently in patients with malignant disease who have suspected adrenal metastases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness and safety of FNA cytology in patients with incidental adrenal masses and functioning tumors. METHODS: Computed tomography (CT)-guided or ultrasound-guided aspirates using 21-23-gauge needles were performed successfully in 70 patients with functioning (n = 38 patients) and nonfunctioning (n = 32 patients) adrenal masses (median size, 4 cm; range, 3-12 cm) that were detected previously by CT scans. RESULTS: Definitive histology was available in 68 patients (97.1%), showing 53 benign tumors (77.9%), 11 primitive malignant tumors (16.2%), and 4 unsuspected adrenal metastases (5.9%) in patients with unknown primary tumors. In two patients with aspirate reports that ruled out malignancy, the mass was unchanged on CT scan follow-up; thus, they were considered benign lesions. The benign masses were significantly smaller (P < 0.01), although seven malignant tumors (46.7%) measured 3-4 cm in greatest dimension, and eight benign lesions (14.5%) measured 5-6 cm in greatest dimension. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were 66.7%, 96.4%, 83.3%, 91.4%, and 90.0%, respectively, for CT scan and 93.3%, 100%, 100%, 98.2%, and 98.6%, respectively, for FNA cytology. The morbidity rate of image-guided FNA cytology was 4.3% (two patients with self-limited, asymptomatic pneumothorax and one patient with spontaneously resolved adrenal hematoma). CONCLUSIONS: Adrenal FNA cytology represents a safe and specific procedure for evaluating patients with adrenal masses measuring > 2 cm in greatest dimension. FNA is able to reveal malignancies and unsuspected pheochromocytomas and should be performed in all patients with adrenal tumors whenever requested for surgical planning.     

Preoperative evaluation of adrenal lesions based on imaging studies and laparoscopic adrenalectomy in patients with otherwise operable lung cancer

PURPOSE: An unsuspected adrenal mass (AM) could be discovered in patients with operable non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), but it is difficult to determine the nature of AM. The purpose of the study is to answer the question as to which decision should be made when assessing AM in patients with NSCLC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1997 to 2005, 40 patients (31 male; mean age: 63 years) were identified to have both NSCLC and AM. We tried to determine the nature of AM based on imaging studies with or without laparoscopic adrenalectomy. When AM was considered benign on CT or PET-CT, surgical resection of NSCLC was performed (group 1, n=25). When AM was considered indeterminate on CT or PET-CT, we performed MRI to determine the operability. In eight patients, surgical resection of NSCLC was performed, because AM was considered benign on MRI (group 2). In seven patients, adrenalectomy was performed to confirm AM pathologically, because all imaging studies were indeterminate (group 3). RESULTS: Follow-up was complete for all patients with a mean duration of 33.1 months (3-104.5). In group 1, no patients showed adrenal metastases, except one who died of adrenal metastasis. In group 2, three patients revealed that they had had adrenal metastases when staging and two died of adrenal metastasis. In group 3, one patient had an adrenal metastasis and the others had benign lesions. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that when AM is considered benign on CT or PET-CT, surgical resection of NSCLC is indicated. However, when AM is indeterminate on CT or PET-CT, histopathologic confirmation is needed to determine the nature of AM.     

Value of 18F-FDG PET in Clinical Staging of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the feasibility of 18F-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) in the staging of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).METHODS 105 patients with NSCLC had been examined by 18F-FDG PET before radiotherapy. The results of the 18F-FDG PET examination were compared with those of CT:RESULTS The staging was changed in 38 patients because of 18F-FDG PET findings, with PET resulting in upstaging in 31 patients and downstaging in seven patients. Because of distant metastasis detected by PET, 21 patients received palliative treatment. Six of the seven downstaged patients underwent radical surgery, among which the PET findings were concordant with the pathological findings in five patients. Distant metastasis detected by PET elevated the pre-PET stage: at stage 110.0% (2/20), stage Ⅱ 14.3% (3/21 ) and stage Ⅲ 25.0% (16/64), respectively.CONCLUSION 18F-FDG PET, by changing clinical staging in 36.2% (38/105)of NSCLC patients, has an impact on treatment strategy in NSCLC patients.     

The Registration of Diagnostic versus Planning Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Radiotherapy Planning for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

AimsRadiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) increasingly utilises fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) fusion. However, it is unknown whether a PET/CT scan conducted in the treatment position results in more accurate registration to the radiotherapy planning CT (rCT) than a diagnostic PET/CT scan. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of registration of the CT components of the planning PET/CT scan (pCT) and diagnostic PET/CT scan (dCT) scan with the rCT.Materials and methodsTen patients with stage I–III NSCLC underwent an rCT immediately followed by a planning PET/CT scan, both carried out with arms placed above the head and immobilisation in the treatment position. All previously underwent a diagnostic FDG PET/CT, which was carried out with the arms above the head, but without custom immobilisation. dCT and pCT were registered to the rCT using a rigid body mutual information algorithm. Four observers identified 12 anatomical points on each scan and differences in their absolute location were analysed.ResultsAt the carina, the mean absolute error (MAE) for pCT–rCT compared with dCT–rCT was 4.37 versus 5.73 mm (P = 0.028). However, there was no significant difference in the root mean squared error (RMSE) for that point. There were no significant differences in MAE or RMSE for all other anatomical points. The MAE for all points was 4.11 versus 4.15 mm (P = NS) and RMSE was 4.40 versus 4.48 mm for pCT–rCT compared with dCT–rCT (P = NS).ConclusionsThere is an average of 4 mm of misregistration when registering the CT components of PET/CT scans to the rCT for NSCLC. Using a rigid registration technique, the registration of a diagnostic PET/CT is as good as the registration of a planning PET/CT.     

Impact of hybrid fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography/computed tomography on radiotherapy planning in esophageal and non-small-cell lung cancer

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a hybrid fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) scanner in radiotherapy planning for esophageal and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 30 patients (16 with esophageal cancer, 14 with NSCLC) underwent an FDG-PET/CT for radiotherapy planning purposes. Noncontrast total-body spiral CT scans were obtained first, followed immediately by FDG-PET imaging which was automatically co-registered to the CT scan. A physician not involved in the patients' original treatment planning designed a gross tumor volume (GTV) based first on the CT dataset alone, while blinded to the FDG-PET dataset. Afterward, the physician designed a GTV based on the fused PET/CT dataset. To standardize PET GTV margin definition, background liver PET activity was standardized in all images. The CT-based and PET/CT-based GTVs were then quantitatively compared by way of an index of conformality, which is the ratio of the intersection of the two GTVs to their union. RESULTS: The mean index of conformality was 0.44 (range, 0.00-0.70) for patients with NSCLC and 0.46 (range, 0.13-0.80) for patients with esophageal cancer. In 10 of the 16 (62.5%) esophageal cancer patients, and in 12 of the 14 (85.7%) NSCLC patients, the addition of the FDG-PET data led to the definition of a smaller GTV. CONCLUSION: The incorporation of a hybrid FDG-PET/CT scanner had an impact on the radiotherapy planning of esophageal cancer and NSCLC. In future studies, we recommend adoption of a conformality index for a more comprehensive comparison of newer treatment planning imaging modalities to conventional options.     

非小细胞肺癌纵隔淋巴结转移危险因素分析及术前纵隔镜检查的应用策略

目的 探讨纵隔镜技术评估非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)术前纵隔淋巴结状态(是否存在转移)的临床应用策略.方法 2000年10月至2007年6月,对临床连续收治的经病理确诊的临床分期为Ⅰ～Ⅲ期的NSCLC患者152例,分别采用CT和纵隔镜技术评估纵隔淋巴结状态.根据纵隔淋巴结最终病理结果,计算CT下纵隔肺门淋巴结阴性NSCLC的纵隔镜检查阳性率和实际纵隔淋巴结转移发生率.以患者性别、年龄、肿瘤部位、病理类型、肿瘤T分期、肿瘤类型(中央型或外周型)、CT下纵隔淋巴结大小和血清癌胚抗原(CEA)水平等作为预测因子,进行纵隔淋巴结转移危险因素的单因素和多因素分析.结果 69例CT下纵隔肺门淋巴结阴性NSCLC,纵隔镜检查阳性8例,阳性率为11.6%;实际纵隔淋巴结转移14例,发生率为20.1%.62例临床Ⅰ期(cT1～2NOMO)NSCLC,纵隔镜检查阳性7例,阳性率为11.3%;实际纵隔淋巴结转移12例,发生率为19.4%.对全部152例NSCLC患者纵隔淋巴结转移危险因素的分析结果显示,病理类型和CT下纵隔淋巴结大小是纵隔淋巴结转移的独立危险因素.对69例CT下纵隔肺门淋巴结阴性NSCLC患者纵隔淋巴结转移危险因素的分析结果显示,病理类型是纵隔淋巴结转移的独立危险因素.结论 对于CT下纵隔淋巴结短径≥1 cm的NSCLC患者,术前必须进行纵隔镜检查;对于腺癌患者,即使是CT下纵隔肺门淋巴结短径<1 cm,术前也应该进行纵隔镜检查.     

Secondary tumors of the pancreas: a case series

Metastatic carcinoma of the pancreas from another primary site is uncommon and it accounts for 2-5% of all pancreatic cancer cases. We reported the case of one patient with pancreatic metastasis from colon carcinoma in the past and would like to add another six cases of pancreatic metastases from different types of cancer. The diagnosis of cancer metastatic to the pancreas should be suspected when patients have a history of malignancy, especially of kidney, skin, lung, colon and breast cancer. Besides imaging studies, such as computed tomography (CT) scan, bone scan and positron emission tomography (PET)/CT scan, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided biopsy has most value in ruling out second primary pancreatic cancer. The prognosis of pancreatic metastases is essentially determined by the underlying primary cancer and the potential treatment options.