Diagnostic value for extrahepatic metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma in positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan

AIM: To evaluated the value of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) scan in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and extrahepatic metastases.METHODS: A total of 138 patients with HCC who had both conventional imaging modalities and ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT scan done between November 2006 and March 2011 were enrolled. Diagnostic value of each imaging modality for detection of extrahepatic metastases was evaluated. Clinical factors and tumor characteristics including PET imaging were analyzed as indicative factors for metastases by univariate and multivariate methods.RESULTS: The accuracy of chest CT was significantly superior compared with the accuracy of PET imaging for detecting lung metastases. The detection rate of metastatic pulmonary nodule ≥ 1 cm was 12/13 (92.3%), when < 1 cm was 2/10 (20%) in PET imaging. The accuracy of PET imaging was significantly superior compared with the accuracy of bone scan for detecting bone metastases. In multivariate analysis, increased tumor size (≥ 5 cm) (P = 0.042) and increased average standardized uptake value (SUV) uptake (P = 0.028) were predictive factors for extrahepatic metastases. Isometabolic HCC in PET imaging was inversely correlated in multivariate analysis (P = 0.035). According to the receiver operating characteristic curve, the optimal cutoff of average SUV to predict extrahepatic metastases was 3.4.CONCLUSION: ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT scan is invaluable for detection of lung metastases larger than 1 cm and bone metastases. Primary HCC having larger than 5 cm and increased average SUV uptake more than 3.4 should be considered for extrahepatic metastases.     

Fluorine-18 FDG positron emission tomography for imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: The detection of increased fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) uptake by positron emission tomography (PET) is based on the enhanced glucose metabolism of tumor cells. Because the detection and staging of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with liver cirrhosis can be difficult, we prospectively evaluated the sensitivity of 18F-FDG PET in 14 consecutive patients with HCC. METHODS: Whole body and regional 18F-FDG PET of the liver were obtained. The results were compared with ultrasonography, contrast-enhanced, helical CT, histological grading, p53 protein expression of HCC, and serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level. RESULTS: In 7 patients PET demonstrated increased tumor 18F-FDG uptake, whereas HCC was not distinguishable from nonmalignant liver tissue in 7 other patients. Hepatic lesions were detected by ultrasonography in all patients, whereas only 11 of 14 HCCs could be identified by CT. In 3 patients extrahepatic spread was demonstrated by 18F-FDG PET. Patients with increased tumor 18F-FDG uptake had significantly larger hepatic lesions and higher serum AFP levels than those with normal 18F-FDG uptake. Lesions could be visualized by 18F-FDG PET in 7 of 8 patients with moderately or poorly differentiated HCC, whereas none of the six well-differentiated tumors was detected. Two patients with strong p53 expression demonstrated increased tumor 18F-FDG uptake and extrahepatic metastases. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity of 18F-FDG PET for the imaging of HCC is low. Nevertheless, in patients with moderately or poorly differentiated HCC, tumors >5 cm, or with markedly elevated AFP levels 18F-FDG PET may contribute to an effective noninvasive staging.     

Results of radio frequency ablation of primary and secondary liver tumors: long-term follow-up with computed tomography and positron emission tomography-18F-deoxyfluoroglucose scanning

BACKGROUND: In the literature, promising results have been obtained with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of primary liver malignancies (e.g. hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC) and secondary liver malignancies (e.g. metastases of colorectal tumors). In our center, positron emission tomography with FDG (FDG-PET) and computed tomography (CT) were used for follow-up. Patient outcome was compared with that in the literature, and PET and CT were analyzed regarding positive and negative predictive values for early detection of tumor recurrence. METHODS: The data were analyzed of patients who were treated with RFA for primary or secondary liver tumors between January 1999 and December 2002. Indications for treatment with RFA were liver tumors that could not be resected owing to size, number, or tumor location. In all patients, a CT scan was performed before RFA, and follow-up was performed with a CT scan in all patients and with an additional PET scan at various intervals in 11 patients. At evaluation with PET, tumor recurrence was defined as positive uptake of tracer either at the previous RFA lesion or at a new site in the liver. RESULTS: In total, 15 patients (8 M, 7 F) were treated in 21 sessions with RFA. The mean follow-up period was 16.8 months (range: 7-42). Average age of the patients was 63 years (range: 40-74). One patient had a primary liver tumor; all other patients had metastases of the breast (1), ovary (1), renal cells (1), and colorectal carcinoma (11 patients). The mean number of tumors per patient was 2.7 (range: 1-5). No treatment-related morbidity or mortality occurred. In 4 of 11 patients evaluated with PET at a mean period of 6.8 months, positive uptake of tracer was noted. At CT evaluation, tumor recurrence was observed in 4 of these patients, at a mean time of 9.8 months. Two patients (13.3%) died of cancer recurrence during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Tumor recurrence is comparable with that in other studies. Centrally located tumors showed more recurrence than peripheral tumors. The use of PET in combination with CT scan at follow-up may lead to earlier detection of tumor recurrence than contrast-enhanced CT alone.     

Metabolic restaging of hepatocellular carcinoma using whole-body 18F-FDG PET/CT

AIM: To evaluate the ability of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission and computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT) in restaging of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after treatment.METHODS: We reviewed a database of the diagnostic performance of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT scan for patients with HCC following local or regional treatment. The database consisted of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT information of 21 male and 4 female (age range, 27-81 years; mean age, 51.6 years) patients who had received surgical resection and/or interventional treatments and then underwent ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT scan. All patients had received enhanced CT scan of the liver two weeks before or after the ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT scan. Intrahepatic recurrence and/or extrahepatic metastases were confirmed by histological analysis or clinical and imaging follow-up. The accuracy of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT study was determined by histopathological results or by clinical and imaging follow-up.RESULTS: ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT was abnormal in 19 of the 25 (76.0%) patients. In detecting HCC recurrence, ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT scored 17 true positives, 5 true negatives, 2 false positives and 1 false negative. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in detecting HCC recurrence was 89.5%, 83.3% and 88%, respectively. ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT had an impact on management of these patients by settling the problem of an unexplained increase in alpha-fetoprotein after treatment (14 patients), by monitoring response to the treatment and guiding additional regional therapy (12 patients), by identifying extrahepatic metastases (10 patients), by identifying tumor growth or thrombosis in the portal vein (6 patients), or by guiding surgical resection of extrahepatic metastases (2 patients).CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that whole body ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT may be useful in the early evaluation of residual, intrahepatic recurrent or extrahepatic metastatic lesions and able to provide valuable information for the management of HCC recurrence.     

18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography for characterization and initial staging of pancreatic tumors

AIM: To evaluate positron emission tomography (PET) with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) for characterizing and initial staging of pancreatic tumors and to determine its impact on therapeutic strategy.PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 24 patients with pancreatic tumor who underwent PET before treatment. Twenty-two patients had a malignant tumor and two had a benign tumor. The PET scan was performed after intravenous injection of FDG with a gamma camera. PET findings were compared with histology of the pancreatic tumor (n=24), liver metastases (n=5), peritoneal metastases (n=5), and lymph node metastases (n=5). Absence of metastasis or lymph node involvement was determined by surgery or by CT scan, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging and at least two months follow-up.RESULTS: The sensitivity of the PET scans to identify pancreatic carcinoma was 64% (95% confidence interval 44-84%). PET scans could not be interpreted for lymph node involvement adjacent to the tumor. For liver metastases, the PET scan was positive in 3 out of 5 patients. For peritoneal metastases, the PET scan was positive in 4 out of 5 patients but was doubtful in one. There were two false positives. Among the 4 cystic tumors, the PET scan was positive for 2 malignant tumors and negative for 2 benign tumors. Surgical strategy was modified in only one of the 24 patients on the basis of PET findings.CONCLUSION: The sensitivity of PET for the diagnosis of primary malignant pancreatic tumor was found to be low. The contribution of FDG-PET to the surgical decision appears to be limited to the detection of metastases or lymph node involvement distant from the tumor, contraindicating surgery. Nevertheless, the sensitivity of FDG-PET is lower than that of laparoscopy for peritoneal metastases. Indications for PET should be included in an evaluation of therapeutic decision making and cost analysis.     

Value of fusing PET plus CT images in hepatocellular carcinoma and combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma patients with extrahepatic metastases: preliminary findings.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography (PET) and PET plus computed tomography (CT) fusion images for the detection of extrahepatic metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma (combined HCC/CC). METHODS: Twenty-one patients with HCC and combined HCC/CC were enrolled in the study from December 2004 to February 2005. In all patients, PET and CT of the chest to pelvis region were performed. The sensitivity of PET plus CT fusion images was compared with the sensitivity of PET, CT, and bone scintigraphy. RESULTS: In 14 patients, a total of 58 extrahepatic metastases were diagnosed. The detection rate of PET plus CT fusion images, PET, CT, and bone scintigraphy was 98.2% (57 of 58 metastases), 89.6% (52 of 58 metastases), 91.2% (52 of 57 metastases), and 68.7% (11 of 16 bone metastases), respectively. No extrahepatic metastases were detected in the other seven patients. The detection rate of PET was 10/18 (55.6%) for intrahepatic lesions of HCC and combined HCC/CC. CONCLUSIONS: The fusion of PET plus CT images is useful in detecting extrahepatic metastases in HCC and combined HCC/CC patients.     

18氟-脱氧葡萄糖正电子发射计算机断层摄影诊断胃恶性肿瘤

目的 探讨18氟-脱氧葡萄糖正电子发射计算机断层摄影(18F-FDG PET/CT)判断胃恶性肿瘤的临床应用价值.方法 2007年5至7月对24例临床疑诊胃恶性肿瘤患者进行18F-FDGPET/CT显像检查,根据初次胃镜及病理活检结果将患者分为确诊组(胃镜和病理检查均提示恶性,9例)和未确诊组(胃镜下疑似恶性但病理检查提示良性,15例).确诊组行PET/CT以助术前评估,之后行手术治疗.未确诊组行PET/CT以判断病灶良恶性,之后再行胃镜和活检病理复查,符合手术指征者行手术治疗,无手术指征者临床随访.最终诊断以手术病理或临床随访结果为准.分析18F-FDG PET/CT对胃恶性肿瘤的诊断灵敏度、特异度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值及对腺癌患者l临床分期的作用.结果 18F-FDG PET/CT检出胃恶性肿瘤患者16例(确诊组9例、未确诊组7例),胃部原发灶16处,腔外增殖性病灶1处侵犯肝脏、胰腺及腹膜,肝转移1处,肺转移1处,空回肠病变3处,累及淋巴结13处,均获术后病理确诊.另有1例未确诊组患者PET/CT疑似恶性病变,术后病理确诊为良性间质瘤;1例未确诊组腺癌患者PET/CT漏诊.PET/CT诊断胃恶性肿瘤的灵敏度为16/17,特异度为6/7,阳性预测值16/17,阴性预测值6/7.对Ⅲ、Ⅳ期胃癌患者的分期正确率为6/6.结论 18F-FDG PET/CT为简单易行、安全、无创及有前景的检查方法,对胃恶性肿瘤的检出及良恶性肿瘤的鉴别有较高的临床应用价值,可作为胃镜检查的补充手段和制定手术方案的辅助工具.     

FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography for the detection of extrahepatic metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma

Aims:  To compare the efficacy of positron emission tomography (PET) computed tomography (CT), multi-detector helical computed tomography (MDCT) and bone scintigraphy for the detection of extrahepatic metastases in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Methods:  Thirty-four patients diagnosed with metastatic HCC were enrolled in this study. The lesions included lung ( n  = 18), bone ( n  = 12) and lymph node ( n  = 16) metastases. For receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, lesions were diagnosed as metastatic HCC by two experienced abdominal radiologists. Another three physicians independently reviewed both positive and negative images. Each physician read three sets of images of MDCT, PET–CT and bone scintigraphy for bone metastasis.
Results:  The mean sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of lung metastasis were 85.2 and 88.9% for MDCT, and 59.2 and 92.6% for PET–CT, respectively. For lymph node metastasis, these values were 62.5 and 79.2% for MDCT, and 66.7 and 91.7% for PET–CT, respectively; and for bone metastasis 41.6 and 94.5% for MDCT, 83.3 and 86.1% for PET–CT, and 52.7 and 83.3% for bone scintigraphy, respectively. The mean Az values were 0.95 and 0.77 for MDCT and PET–CT in lung metastasis, respectively, 0.75 and 0.80 for MDCT and PET–CT for lymph node metastasis, respectively, and 0.59, 0.88 and 0.62 for MDCT, PET–CT and bone scintigraphy for bone metastasis, respectively.
Conclusion:  PET–CT has high sensitivity and is more suitable for the detection of bone metastases from primary HCC, relative to MDCT and bone scintigraphy.     

Fine-needle aspiration cytology to distinguish dysplasia from hepatocellular carcinoma with different grades

Background:  Distinguishing dysplasia from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is difficult. The aim of this study was to diagnose HCC and the distinction of liver cell dysplasia from HCC with different grades by interpreting and scoring the cyto-morphological features.
Methods:  Eighty-three cirrhotic patients undertook a sonography-guided FNA and subsequent needle biopsy for the tumor. HCC was confirmed in 68 cases and cirrhosis with dysplasia in 15 cases by pathology and follow-up for longer than 2 years. Eighteen cytological features were scored as degree of one, two or three according to their presence or prominence.
Results:  Two cases of well-differentiated HCC were diagnosed as negative for HCC initially. The sensitivity, specificity, false positive, false negative and accuracy were 97%, 100%, 0%, 3% and 97.6% for FNA cytology in the diagnosis of HCC, respectively. The score of dysplasia was 20.8 ± 1.3 (mean ± SD) and lower than 26.2 ± 3.4 in Edmondson's grade I HCC ( P  < 0.01), 28.9 ± 2.9 in grade II HCC ( P  < 0.01), and 34.9 ± 4.3 in grade III/IV HCC ( P  < 0.01). The score was also significantly lower in grade II HCC than in grade III/IV HCC ( P  < 0.01).
Conclusions:  FNA yielded a high accuracy in the distinction of dysplasia from HCC with different grades. There is a good correlation in cyto-morphological scores of liver cell dysplasia and HCC with different grades. Dysplasia displayed the lowest score and the score increased in order from dysplasia to grade III/IV HCC.     

Clinical applications of positron emission tomography in hepatic tumors

Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), which allows the evaluation of glucose metabolism, is widely used for tumor diagnosis using positron emission tomography (PET). FDG‐PET, which is used for the diagnosis of intrahepatic tumor lesions, shows high FDG accumulation in cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCC) and metastatic liver cancer. FDG‐PET shows high FDG accumulation in moderately or poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is useful for the diagnosis of extrahepatic HCC metastases and recurrences. However, because the imaging method frequently shows low FDG accumulation in well‐differentiated HCC, it is not very useful for that diagnosis. For the diagnosis of well‐differentiated HCC, F‐18 fluorocholine for evaluation of phospholipid metabolism and C‐11 acetate for evaluation of free fatty acid metabolism are useful in the diagnosis of that HCC. It is expected that the combination of these PET agents will enhance the diagnostic performance of FDG‐PET for HCC in the future. The problem of a lack of anatomical information is being resolved with the development of the use of PET in combination with computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. For the problem of low resolution, PET devices using semiconductors have been developed.     

Decreased expression of type Ⅱ tumor suppressor gene RARRES3 in tissues of hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma

AIM: To analyze the expression of retinoic acid receptor responder 3 (RARRES3) protein in paraffin-embedded tissues of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CC), and the correlation of RARRES3 production with tumor differentiation. METHODS: Expression of RARRES3 in tissues from 21 CC (10 well-, 7 moderately- and 4 poorly-differentiated) and 32 HCC was determined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Among 21 CC tissues, RARRES3 was detected in 8 (80%) of 10 well-differentiated tumors. Only 2 (18.2%) out of 11 tumors with moderate or poor differentiationshowed positive RARRES3 expression. RARRES3 expression in well-differentiated CC was significantly higher than that in tumors with moderate or poor differentiation (Fisher exact test, P&lt;0.01). Expression of RARRES3 was not different between early (Ⅰ and Ⅱ) and late (Ⅲ and Ⅳ) stages of CC. Among 30 HCC tissues, 17 (56.7%) weakly expressed RARRES3 in HCC cells, and 25 (83.3%) normal tissues adjacent to HCC expressed the protein. RARRES3 expression was significantly decreased in HCC tissues compared to that in adjacent normal tissues (logistic regression analysis, OR = 0.27, 95% Cl (0.11-0.62), P&lt;0.01). CONCLUSION: Expression of RARRES3 is positively correlated to well-differentiated CC, which supports the role of RARRES3 in malignant epithelial differentiation of the tumor. The decrease in RARRES3 expression in tissues of HCC and CC with moderate and poor differentiation suggests that altered RARRES3 expression may play a role in the carcinogenesis of the liver and biliary tract.     

Decreased expression of type Ⅱ tumor suppressor gene RARRES3 in tissues of hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma

AIM: To analyze the expression of retinoic acid receptor responder 3 (RARRES3) protein in paraffin-embedded tissues of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma(CC), and the correlation of RARRES3 production with tumor differentiation.METHODS: Expression of RARRES3 in tissues from 21CC (10 well-, 7 moderately- and 4 poorly-differentiated)and 32 HCC was determined by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS: Among 21 CC tissues, RARRES3 was detected in 8 (80%) of 10 well-differentiated tumors. Only 2 (18.2%)out of 11 tumors with moderate or poor differentiation showed positive RARRES3 expression. RARRES3 expression in well-differentiated CC was significantly higher than that in tumors with moderate or poor differentiation (Fisher exact test, P＜0.01). Expression of RARRES3 was not different between early (Ⅰ and Ⅱ) and late (Ⅲ and Ⅳ) stages of CC.Among 30 HCC tissues, 17 (56.7%) weakly expressed RARRES3 in HCC cells, and 25 (83.3%) normal tissues adjacent to HCC expressed the protein. RARRES3 expression was significantly decreased in HCC tissues compared to that in adjacent normal tissues (logistic regression analysis, OR = 0.27, 95% CI (0.11-0.62), P＜0.01).CONCLUSION: Expression of RARRES3 is positively correlated to well-differentiated CC, which supports the role of RARRES3 in malignant epithelial differentiation of the tumor. The decrease in RARRES3 expression in tissues of HCC and CC with moderate and poor differentiation suggests that altered RARRES3 expression may play a role in the carcinogenesis of the liver and biliary tract.     

Radiofrequency ablation of liver tumors: experience with open and percutaneous approach.

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), a thermal coagulation technique, has been used for ablation of primary and secondary liver tumors. METHODS: Over a 24-month period, 41 patients, including 20 with hepatocellular cancer (HCC), 14 with liver metastases from colorectal tumors and 7 with metastases from other tumors, underwent RFA in our institution. Ablation was done using intra-operative (n=27) or percutaneous ultrasonographic (n=14) guidance. A zone of ablation larger than the size of the lesion on CT scan indicated successful RFA. RESULTS: The mean size of lesions was 4.9 cm for HCC and 3.1 cm for metastases. Among 20 patients with HCC, 16 had complete tumor ablation and one had failure of localization. All patients with liver metastases had successful tumor ablation. There was no procedure-related death. Two patients had hemoperitoneum and one experienced skin burn. During a median follow up of 16 months, five patients with HCC and two with colorectal metastases died. One patient had tumor recurrence at the ablation site and two developed fresh solitary metastatic lesions; all three are disease-free after repeat ablation treatment. CONCLUSIONS: RFA is a safe and promising technique for the treatment of non-resectable HCC and liver metastases, in the short term.     

18F-FDG PET/CT检查指标预测肝细胞癌微血管侵犯临床价值研究*

目的 研究¹⁸氟-代脱氧葡萄糖电子发射断层显像术/x线计算机体层摄影术（18F-FDG PET/CT）检查预测肝细胞癌（HCC）微血管侵犯（MVI）患者的临床意义。方法 2014年2月~2015年12月我院诊治的HCC患者99例,接受¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT检查,然后行肝叶切除术。结果 在99例HCC患者中,经术后组织病理学检查,证实有MVI患者42例,无MVI患者57例;¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT检查结果显示,肝内肿瘤表现为低密度或稍低密度阴影,病灶呈不规则状,大多数情况呈类圆形,部分肿瘤周围伴有子灶。PET/CT检查显像阳性73例（73.7%）,其中MVI阳性组为85.7%,显著高于MVI阴性组的64.9%（P<0.05）; MVI阳性组肿瘤直径为（7.6±2.8） cm,显著大于MVI阴性组的（5.4±2.4） cm,肿瘤最大标准摄取值（SUVmax）为（7.4±5.2）,显著高于MVI阴性组的【（5.3±5.2）,P<0.05】;MVI阳性与MVI阴性患者肿瘤组织学类型差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）,但MVI阳性患者肿瘤分化为III/IV型比例显著高于MVI阴性患者（88.1%对75.4%,P<0.05）;术后随访12~24个月,中位随访时间为18个月,99例HCC患者1 a总体生存率为81.8%,无瘤生存率为60.6%,其中MVI阳性组1 a总体生存率和无瘤生存率分别为66.7%和47.6%,显著低于MVI阴性组的91.2%和70.2%（P<0.05）。结论 肝细胞癌伴有微血管侵犯患者在行18F-FDG PET/CT检查时有一些特点值得总结和观察,其临床意义还需要进一步探讨。     

Positron emission tomography/computed tomography with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose identifies tumor growth or thrombosis in the portal vein with hepatocellular carcinoma

Patients suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with tumor thrombus in the portal vein generally have a poor prognosis. Portal vein tumor thrombus must be distinguished from portal vein blood thrombus, and this identification plays a very important role in management of HCC. Conventional imaging modalities have limitations in discrimination of portal vein tumor thrombus. The application of positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) for discrimination between tumor extension and blood thrombus has been reported in few cases of HCC, while portal tumor thrombosis and portal vein clot identified by 18F-FDG PET/CT in HCC patients has not been reported so far. We present two HCC cases, one with portal vein tumor thrombus and one thrombosis who were identified with 18F-FDG PET/CT. This report illustrates the complimentary value of combining the morphological and functional imaging in achieving a correct diagnosis in such clinical situations.     

肝细胞癌的CT灌注与可重复性研究

目的 应用CT灌注成像前瞻性研究进展期肝细胞癌（HCC）的肿瘤血管,并评估CT灌注参数与肿瘤分级及肿瘤标记物的相关性。方法 手术不能切除的HCC及肝转移患者30例（HCC组25例、肝转移组5例）静脉注射造影剂后,接受动态首次通过CT灌注扫描。收集数据计算CT灌注参数（肿瘤组织和肝组织的血流量、血容量、平均通过时间、表面通透性）。其中有4例患者在30小时内再行1次CT灌注扫描,以检验本研究的可重复性。CT灌注参数在不同级别的肿瘤、有无门静脉癌栓、肝硬化、无肝外转移患者中进行比较,并且评估CT灌注参数与AFP的相关性。应用单向方差分析来统计处理CT灌注参数在各个比较中的差异。结果 本研究的可重复性检验良好（r=0.9,P〈0.01）。在肝细胞肝癌组织与肝实质的CT灌注参数比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。高分化的HCC-CT灌注值高于低分化肿瘤（P〈0.05）。有或无门静脉癌栓、有或无肝硬化患者的CT灌注值差异无统计学意义。淋巴结转移的CT灌注值低于其他肝外转移。CT灌注参数与AFP比较,差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论 CT灌注成像是一项可行的、可重复性定量分析进展期肝癌肿瘤血供与肿瘤血管生成的检查手段。     

Clinical features of hepatocellular carcinoma with extrahepatic metastases

BACKGROUND: There are few detailed clinical reports about extrahepatic metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the clinical features of extrahepatic metastases of HCC. METHODS: The clinical records of 482 patients who had been diagnosed as having HCC during the period from January 1995 to March 2001 were retrospectively reviewed. Extrahepatic metastases had been detected in 65 patients. Clinical features of those 65 patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients with extrahepatic metastases had more advanced intrahepatic tumors at the first diagnosis of HCC: 73.8% of the patients with extrahepatic metastases had tumors of intrahepatic tumor stage T3 or T4 according to the TNM classification, while only 28.5% of the patients without extrahepatic metastases had tumors of T3 or T4 (P < 0.001). Vessel invasion was also detected at the first diagnosis of HCC more frequently in the patients with extrahepatic metastasis (P < 0.001). The frequent metastatic sites were lung (53.8%), bone (38.5%), and lymph node (33.8%). Other metastatic sites were the adrenal gland, peritoneum, skin, brain and muscle. The median survival time and 1-year survival rate were 7 months (range: 1-59 months) and 24.9%, respectively. Patients with Child-Pugh grade B and C (P = 0.0018) and patients with positive serum alpha-fetoprotein (P = 0.011) had significantly poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Extrahepatic metastases of HCC are not rare. The possibility of extrahepatic metastases and the clinical features of extrahepatic metastases should be considered when examining patients with HCC, particularly those with advanced intrahepatic tumors, to enable precise evaluation of the spread of HCC and determination of the appropriate treatment method.     

Comparison of (11)C-acetate positron emission tomography and (67)Gallium citrate scintigraphy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIMS: Nuclear imaging may have an increasing role in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to compare prospectively the Gallium-67 citrate ((67)Ga) scintigraphy results with those obtained by positron emission tomography (PET) using (11)C-acetate in patients with HCC. METHODS: We prospectively analysed 21 patients (mean age, 64+/-11 years) with histopathologically verified HCC undergoing (11)C-acetate PET and (67)Ga scintigraphy. (67)Ga scans were not performed in three of these 21 patients due to the exacerbation of the disease. Whole-body (11)C-acetate PET were performed following intravenous injection of 850 MBq of (11)C-acetate. For (67)Ga scintigraphy, whole-body, planar and single photon emission computed tomography imaging acquisitions were performed after intravenous application of a mean dose of 189 MBq (67)Ga. RESULTS: (67)Ga scintigraphy found abnormalities only in 10 of 18 patients (56%) and detected 22 of 46 clinically involved sites (48%); it was false-positive in two patients. (11)C-acetate PET found abnormalities in 14 of 18 patients (78%) and detected 36 of 46 clinical lesions (78%); it was false-positive in one patients. In one patient with left supraclavicular lymph node metastases, neither the (67)Ga scintigraphy nor the conventional computed tomography have shown the lesions, which were clearly demonstrated by the (11)C-acetate PET. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate significantly higher sensitivity and specificity of (11)C-acetate PET than (67)Ga scan in detection of HCC lesions. This study suggests that imaging with (11)C-acetate PET might play a potential role in the diagnostic workup of patients with HCC.     

Clinical application of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography for assessment and evaluation after therapy for malignant hepatic tumor

Positron emission tomography (PET) is widely available and its application with 2-[¹⁸F] fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (¹⁸F-FDG) in oncology has become one of the standard imaging modalities in diagnosing and staging of tumors, and monitoring the therapeutic efficacy in hepatic malignancies. Recently, investigators have measured glucose utilization in liver tumors using ¹⁸F-FDG and positron emission tomography/computer tomography (PET/CT) in order to establish a diagnosis of tumors, assess their biologic characteristics and predict therapeutic effects on hepatic malignancies. The PET/CT with ¹⁸F-FDG may further enhance the hepatic malignancy diagnostic algorithm by accurate diagnosis, staging, restaging and evaluating its biological characteristics, which can benefit the patients suffering from primary and metastatic hepatic tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cholangiocarcinoma (CCC), and metastatic liver tumor.     

Prognostic value of pre-treatment F-18-FDG PET-CT in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing radioembolization

AIM To evaluate the value of pre-treatment 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with HCC following liver radioembolization.METHODS We identified 34 patients with HCC who underwent an FDG PET/CT scan prior to hepatic radioembolization at our institution between 2009 and 2013. Patients wereseen in clinic one month after radioembolization and then at 2-3 mo intervals. We assessed the influence of FDG tumor uptake on outcomes including local liver control(LLC), distant liver control(DLC), time to distant metastases(DM), progression free survival(PFS) and overall survival(OS).RESULTS The majority of patients were males(n = 25, 74%), and had Child Pugh Class A(n = 31, 91%), with a median age of 68 years(46-84 years). FDG-avid disease was found in 19(56%) patients with SUVmax ranging from 3 to 20. Female patients were more likely to have an FDG-avid HCC(P = 0.02). Median follow up of patients following radioembolization was 12 months(1.2-62.8 mo). FDG-avid disease was associated with a decreased 1 year LLC, DLC, DM and PFS(P 0.05). Using multivariate analysis, FDG avidity predicted for LLC, DLC, and PFS(all P 0.05).CONCLUSION In this retrospective study, pre-treatment HCC FDGavidity was found to be associated with worse LLC, DLC, and PFS following radioembolization. Larger studies are needed to validate our initial findings to assess the role of F-18-FDG PET/CT scans as biomarker for patients with HCC following radioembolization.