Comparison of18FDG-PET with99mTc-HMDP scntigraphy for the detection of bone metastases in patients with breast cancer

OBJECTIVE: Bone is one of the most common sites of metastasis in breast cancer patients. Although bone scintigraphy is widely used to detect metastatic breast cancer, the usefulness of 18FDG-PET for detecting bone metastasis has not been clearly evaluated. The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of 18FDG-PET with bone scintigraphy in detecting bone metastasis in breast cancer patients. METHODS: Forty-four women aged 35 to 81 years (mean, 56 years) with breast cancer were examined in this study. Both 18FDG-PET and bone scintigraphy were performed for each patient with 0-69 day intervals (mean, 11.5 days). The results of each image interpretation were compared retrospectively. Whole-body bones were classified into 9 anatomical regions. Metastases were confirmed at 45/187 regions in 14 patients by bone biopsy or clinical follow-up including other imaging techniques for a period of at least 6 months afterwards. RESULTS: On a region basis, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 18FDG-PET were 84%, 99% and 95%, respectively. Although these results were comparable to those of bone scintigraphy, the combination of 18FDG-PET and bone scintigraphy improved the sensitivity (98%) and accuracy (97%) of detection. False negative lesions of bone scintigraphy were mostly bone marrow metastases and those of 18FDG-PET were mostly osteoblastic metastases. 18FDG-PET was superior to bone scintigraphy in the detection of osteolytic lesions (92% vs. 73%), but inferior in the detection of osteoblastic lesions (74% vs. 95%). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that 18FDG-PET tends to be superior to bone scintigraphy in the detection of osteolytic lesions, but inferior in the detection of osteoblastic lesions. 18FDG-PET should play a complementary role in detecting bone metastasis with bone scintigraphy.     

Meta-analysis: comparison of F-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography and bone scintigraphy in the detection of bone metastases in patients with breast cancer

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic properties of FDG-PET and bone scintigraphy in the detection of osseous metastases in patients with breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Studies evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of FDG-PET and bone scintigraphy in the diagnosis of osseous metastasis were systematically searched for in the MEDLINE, CINAHL, and EBM Review databases from January 1995 to November 2006. Two reviewers independently abstracted data including research design, sample size, imaging technique and technical characteristics, reference standard, method of image interpretation, and totals of true positives, false positives, true negatives, and false negatives. Per-patient and per-lesion pooled sensitivity and specificity, and area under summary receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated using Meta-Test software. RESULTS: The pooled patient-based sensitivity for FDG-PET was 81% (95% CI: 70%-89%), specificity was 93% (95% CI: 84%-97%), and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.08. The pooled sensitivity of bone scan was 78% (95% CI: 67%-86%), specificity was 79% (95% CI: 40%-95%), and the AUC was 0.43. The pooled lesion-based sensitivity for FDG-PET was 69% (95% CI: 28%-93%), specificity was 98% (95% CI: 87%-100%), and the AUC was 0.09. The pooled sensitivity for bone scan was 88% (95% CI: 82%-92%), specificity was 87% (95% CI: 29%-99%), and the AUC was 0.81. CONCLUSIONS: It remains inconclusive whether FDG-PET or bone scintigraphy is superior in detecting osseous metastasis from breast cancer. However, FDG-PET does have a higher specificity and may better serve as a confirmatory test than bone scintigraphy and used to monitor response to therapy.     

Positron emission tomography in breast cancer: a clinicopathological correlation of results

We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of positron emission tomography (PET) scans in 109 patients with primary recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. All patients had a PET scan, X-ray or CT scan of the chest, an ultrasound or CT scan of the liver and a bone scan. Mammography was available for 86 patients. Correlation between the PET scan result and histological findings were made. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the PET scan were calculated for both the primary tumour (T) and lymph nodes (N). In patients with metastasis (M) the accuracy of the PET scan was compared with other imaging modalities. Histological results of the site in question were available in only 105 patients. Information for the primary tumour was available for 93 patients and for nodes in 74. The PET scan was accurate in 89.2% for (T), with 3.2% false positive and 7.6% false negative. For (N) the PET scan was accurate in 90.5% with 9.5% false negative. In the 86 patients who underwent both mammography and PET scanning, the PET scan was more accurate in 89.5% versus 72% (p = 0.0003). In the 19 patients with metastasis, the PET scan was in agreement with other imaging modalities in 100% of cases. PET scanning is the only non-invasive imaging procedure that will detect tumours in the breast, lymph nodes, lung, liver, bone and bone marrow with high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. It is a valuable tool in the management of patients in all stages of breast cancer for diagnosis, staging and following treatment response.     

99mTc depreotide scan compared with 99mTc-MDP bone scintigraphy for the detection of bone metastases and prediction of response to hormonal treatment in patients with breast cancer

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the potential role of Tc depreotide scintigraphy for the evaluation of bone metastases compared with Tc methylenediphosphonate (MDP) bone scintigraphy and for the prediction of treatment response in breast cancer patients in whom first- or second-line hormonal therapy was to be initiated. METHODS: Twelve patients with a diagnosis of advanced breast cancer were included. All patients underwent both a bone scan and a depreotide scan and at least one other conventional imaging procedure, including plain film radiography (n=11), computed tomography (n=6) or magnetic resonance imaging (n=5), for confirmation of metastatic disease. The mean time interval between the bone scan and the depreotide scan was 30.6 days. Follow-up data were retrieved from routine clinical evaluation by means of physical examination, imaging and blood analysis. RESULTS: On a patient basis we found a sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of, respectively 100%, 50% and 83.3% for the bone scan and 62.5%, 100% and 75% for the depreotide scan in the diagnosis of bone metastasis. In eight patients with available follow-up data two with a positive depreotide scan remained stable and five of six patients with a negative depreotide scan had progressive disease. CONCLUSION: In this small series of breast cancer patients Tc depreotide scintigraphy proves less sensitive but more specific as compared to Tc-MDP bone scintigraphy in measuring the extent of bone metastasis. On the other hand Tc depreotide scintigraphy elucidates, non-invasively, tumour characteristics and may be indicative for prognosis and response to hormonal treatment.     

FDG-PET, 99mtc-HMPAO white blood cell SPET and bone scintigraphy in the evaluation of painful total knee arthroplasties.

Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (HMPAO)-labelled white blood cell (WBC) scintigraphy and bone scintigraphy were used in the evaluation of total knee arthroplasties (TKAs). We prospectively included 21 patients who had a three-phase bone scan for exclusion of infection of TKAs. Four hours after injection of 185 MBq 99mTc-HMPAO-labelled WBCs, planar and single-photon emission tomographic (SPET) imaging was performed. Planar imaging was repeated at 24 h p.i. Consecutively images of the knees were obtained with a dedicated PET system 60 min following the injection of 370 MBq of FDG. Focal tracer uptake was scored on SPET and PET visually (0=no uptake, 4=intense uptake). In addition, SUV (standardised uptake value) per voxel was calculated from attenuation-corrected PET images using the MLAA algorithm. Focal uptake at the bone-prosthesis interface was used as the criterion for infection before and after correlation with the third phase of the bone scan. Final diagnosis was based on operative findings, culture and clinical outcome. In the infected TKAs, the WBC scan showed focal activity of grade 2 (n=2), 3 (n=l) or 4 (n=2). PET scan revealed focal activity of grade 4 (n=5) or 3 (n=1). WBC scan alone had a specificity for infection of 53% [positive predictive value (PPV) 42%, sensitivity 100%], compared with 73% for PET scan (PPV 60%, sensitivity 100%). Considering only lesions at the bone-prosthesis interface that were also present on the third phase of the bone scan, we found a specificity of 93% (PPV 83%) for WBC scan. Using these criteria, a specificity of 80% (PPV 67%) was obtained for PET scan. Two out of three false-positive PET scans were due to loosening of the TKA. It is concluded that WBC scintigraphy in combination with bone scintigraphy has a high specificity in the detection of infected TKAs. FDG-PET seems to offer no additional benefit.     

FDG-PET, 99mTc-HMPAO white blood cell SPET and bone scintigraphy in the evaluation of painful total knee arthroplasties

Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (HMPAO)-labelled white blood cell (WBC) scintigraphy and bone scintigraphy were used in the evaluation of total knee arthroplasties (TKAs). We prospectively included 21 patients who had a three-phase bone scan for exclusion of infection of TKAs. Four hours after injection of 185 MBq ^99mTc-HMPAO-labelled WBCs, planar and single-photon emission tomographic (SPET) imaging was performed. Planar imaging was repeated at 24 h p.i. Consecutively images of the knees were obtained with a dedicated PET system 60 min following the injection of 370 MBq of FDG. Focal tracer uptake was scored on SPET and PET visually (0=no uptake, 4=intense uptake). In addition, SUV (standardised uptake value) per voxel was calculated from attenuation-corrected PET images using the MLAA algorithm. Focal uptake at the bone-prosthesis interface was used as the criterion for infection before and after correlation with the third phase of the bone scan. Final diagnosis was based on operative findings, culture and clinical outcome. In the infected TKAs, the WBC scan showed focal activity of grade 2 (n=2), 3 (n=1) or 4 (n=2). PET scan revealed focal activity of grade 4 (n=5) or 3 (n=1). WBC scan alone had a specificity for infection of 53% [positive predictive value (PPV) 42%, sensitivity 100%], compared with 73% for PET scan (PPV 60%, sensitivity 100%). Considering only lesions at the bone-prosthesis interface that were also present on the third phase of the bone scan, we found a specificity of 93% (PPV 83%) for WBC scan. Using these criteria, a specificity of 80% (PPV 67%) was obtained for PET scan. Two out of three false-positive PET scans were due to loosening of the TKA. It is concluded that WBC scintigraphy in combination with bone scintigraphy has a high specificity in the detection of infected TKAs. FDG-PET seems to offer no additional benefit.     

FDG-PET for detection of osseous metastases from malignant primary bone tumours: comparison with bone scintigraphy

The purpose of this study was to compare positron emission tomography using fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) and technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate (MDP) bone scintigraphy in the detection of osseous metastases from malignant primary osseous tumours. In 70 patients with histologically proven malignant primary bone tumours (32 osteosarcomas, 38 Ewing's sarcomas), 118 FDG-PET examinations were evaluated. FDG-PET scans were analysed with regard to osseous metastases in comparison with bone scintigraphy. The reference methods for both imaging modalities were histopathological analysis, morphological imaging [additional conventional radiography, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)] and/or clinical follow-up over 6-64 months (median 20 months). In 21 examinations (18%) reference methods revealed 54 osseous metastases (49 from Ewing's sarcomas, five from osteosarcomas). FDG-PET had a sensitivity of 0.90, a specificity of 0.96 and an accuracy of 0.95 on an examination-based analysis. Comparable values for bone scintigraphy were 0.71, 0.92 and 0.88. On a lesion-based analysis the sensitivity of FDG-PET and bone scintigraphy was 0.80 and 0.72, respectively. Analysing only Ewing's sarcoma patients, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of FDG-PET and bone scan were 1.00, 0.96 and 0.97 and 0.68, 0.87 and 0.82, respectively (examination-based analysis). None of the five osseous metastases from osteosarcoma were detected by FDG-PET, but all of them were true-positive using bone scintigraphy. In conclusion, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of FDG-PET in the detection of osseous metastases from Ewing's sarcomas are superior to those of bone scintigraphy. However, in the detection of osseous metastases from osteosarcoma, FDG-PET seems to be less sensitive than bone scintigraphy.     

FDG-PET for detection of osseous metastases from malignant primary bone tumours: comparison with bone scintigraphy

The purpose of this study was to compare positron emission tomography using fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) and technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate (MDP) bone scintigraphy in the detection of osseous metastases from malignant primary osseous tumours. In 70 patients with histologically proven malignant primary bone tumours (32 osteosarcomas, 38 Ewing's sarcomas), 118 FDG-PET examinations were evaluated. FDG-PET scans were analysed with regard to osseous metastases in comparison with bone scintigraphy. The reference methods for both imaging modalities were histopathological analysis, morphological imaging [additional conventional radiography, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)] and/or clinical follow-up over 6-64 months (median 20 months). In 21 examinations (18%) reference methods revealed 54 osseous metastases (49 from Ewing's sarcomas, five from osteosarcomas). FDG-PET had a sensitivity of 0.90, a specificity of 0.96 and an accuracy of 0.95 on an examination-based analysis. Comparable values for bone scintigraphy were 0.71, 0.92 and 0.88. On a lesion-based analysis the sensitivity of FDG-PET and bone scintigraphy was 0.80 and 0.72, respectively. Analysing only Ewing's sarcoma patients, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of FDG-PET and bone scan were 1.00, 0.96 and 0.97 and 0.68, 0.87 and 0.82, respectively (examination-based analysis). None of the five osseous metastases from osteosarcoma were detected by FDG-PET, but all of them were true-positive using bone scintigraphy. In conclusion, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of FDG-PET in the detection of osseous metastases from Ewing's sarcomas are superior to those of bone scintigraphy. However, in the detection of osseous metastases from osteosarcoma, FDG-PET seems to be less sensitive than bone scintigraphy.     

Pitfalls of FDG-PET for the diagnosis of osteoblastic bone metastases in patients with breast cancer

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the pitfalls of using 2-[¹⁸F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) for the evaluation of osteoblastic bone metastases in patients with breast cancer by comparing it with ^99mTc-hydroxymethylene diphosphonate bone scintigraphy.Methods Among the 89 breast cancer patients (mean age 59±15 years) who had undergone both FDG-PET and bone scintigraphy within 1 month between September 2003 and December 2004, 55 with bone metastases were studied. The bone metastases were visually classified by multi-slice CT into four types according to their degree of osteosclerosis and osteolysis—osteoblastic, osteolytic, mixed and invisible—and compared in terms of tracer uptake on FDG-PET or bone scintigraphy and SUV_mean on FDG-PET. Differences in the rate of detection on bone scintigraphy and FDG-PET were analysed for significance by the McNemar test.Results The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of bone scintigraphy were 78.2%, 82.4% and 79.8% respectively, and those of FDG-PET were 80.0%, 88.2% and 83.1%, respectively, revealing no significant differences. According to the CT image type, the visualisation rate of bone scintigraphy/FDG-PET was 100%/55.6% for the blastic type, 70.0%/100.0% for the lytic type, 84.2%/94.7% for the mixed type and 25.0%/87.5% for the invisible type. The visualisation rates of bone scintigraphy for the blastic type and FDG-PET for the invisible type were significantly higher. The SUV_mean of the blastic, lytic, mixed and invisible types were 1.72±0.28, 4.14±2.20, 2.97±1.98 and 2.25±0.80, respectively, showing that the SUV_mean tended to be higher for the lytic type than for the blastic type.Conclusion FDG-PET showed a low visualisation rate in respect of osteoblastic bone metastases. Although FDG-PET is useful for detection of bone metastases from breast cancer, it is apparent that it suffers from some limitations in depicting metastases of the osteoblastic type.An editorial commentary on this paper is available at     

^18FDG-PET和^99mTc-MDP骨扫描检测骨转移瘤价值的比较

目的:评价18FDG-PET恶性肿瘤骨转移的作用及与99mTc-MDP-ECT 比较.材料和方法: 经病理证实为恶性肿瘤患者51 例及非肿瘤性疾病5例在本科同时接受18F-FDG-PET和99mTc-MDP-ECT检查(时间间隔不超过2周).骨转移的诊断由病理、X线或CT/MRI、随访超过1年综合决定.结果:99mTc-MDP和18FDG-PET 对骨转移瘤诊断的灵敏度、特异性、准确率率分别为93.7%、93.7%,97.5%、50%,90.8%、62.5%.99mTc-MDP和18FDG-PET均为阳性15例,其中证实骨转移为14例,假阳性1例;均为阴性例数为20例.21例不相符的结果中20例99mTc-MDP-ECT 阳性而18F-FDG-PET 为阴性.18F-FDG-PET和99mTc-MDP-ECT假阴性各1例.均诊断为多发骨转移的12例患者中99mTc-MDP-ECT发现的骨转移病灶数多于18F-FDG-PET.结论:18F-FDG-PET 与99mTc-MDP骨扫描相比较对肿瘤骨转移的探测有较高的特异性,但敏感性较低.     

Accuracy of fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography for diagnosis of single bone metastasis: comparison with bone scintigraphy

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) with bone scan for diagnosis of single bone metastasis using a semiquantitative method. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-six patients with suspected single bone metastasis, who underwent both FDG-PET and a bone scan, were selected. The number and location of lesions detected upon both FDG-PET and bone scan were recorded, and the lesions were compared using the McNemar test. For semiquantitative analysis, a maximum (max) standard uptake value (SUV) of 2.5 was used as the positive cutoff value for metastasis. The difference in max SUV value among 3 groups (osteolytic, osteoblastic, and benign lesions) was assessed using the Student-Newman-Keuls method. Biopsy results, other imaging findings (multirow detector computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging), and the patient's clinical course were used as references. RESULTS: There were 47 single bone metastases and 29 benign lesions. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of bone scans for diagnosing bone metastases were 89%, 41%, and 71%, respectively, and those of FDG-PET were 85%, 52%, and 72%, respectively. These data were not significantly different (P > 0.05). Using a max SUV of 2.5 as the positive cutoff value for metastasis, the specificity and accuracy of FDG-PET, 83% for each, improved. When classifying bone metastasis as osteoblastic or osteolytic, the max SUV was significantly higher in osteolytic metastasis than in osteoblastic and benign lesions (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) using the semiquantitative parameter SUV improves the diagnostic ability to differentiate between single bone metastases and benign lesions.     

Fluorine-18 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose PET in the preoperative staging of breast cancer: comparison with the standard staging procedures

The present study compared the diagnostic accuracy of fluorine-18 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) with conventional staging techniques. The differentiation between malignant and benign lesions and the detection of multifocal disease, axillary and internal lymph node involvement, and distant metastases were evaluated. One hundred and seventeen female patients were prospectively examined using FDG-PET and conventional staging methods such as chest X-ray, ultrasonography of the breast and liver, mammography and bone scintigraphy. All patients were examined on a modern full-ring PET scanner. Histopathological analysis of resected specimens was employed as the reference method. The readers of FDG-PET were blinded to the results of the other imaging methods and to the site of the breast tumour. The sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET in detecting malignant breast lesions were 93% and 75% respectively. FDG-PET was twofold more sensitive (sensitivity 63%, specificity 95%) in detecting multifocal lesions than the combination of mammography and ultrasonography (sensitivity 32%, specificity 93%). Sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET in detecting axillary lymph node metastases were 79% and 92% (41% and 96% for clinical evaluation). FDG-PET correctly indicated distant metastases in seven patients. False-positive or false-negative findings were not encountered with FDG-PET. Chest X-ray was false-negative in three of five patients with lung metastases. Bone scintigraphy was false-positive in four patients. Three patients were upstaged since FDG-PET detected distant metastases missed with the standard staging procedure. It is concluded that, compared with the imaging methods currently employed for initial staging, FDG-PET is as accurate in interpreting the primary tumour and more accurate in screening for lymph node metastases and distant metastases. Due to a false-negative rate of 20% in detecting axillary lymph node metastases, FDG-PET cannot replace histological evaluation of axillary status.     

The value of <Superscript>18</Superscript>FDG-PET for the detection of infected hip prosthesis

We compared the accuracy of fluorine-18 labelled 2-fluoro-2-deoxy- d-glucose positron emission tomography ((18)FDG PET) with that of technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime leucocyte scintigraphy (LS) in the detection of infected hip prosthesis. Seventeen patients with a hip prosthesis suspected for infection were prospectively included and underwent (99m)Tc-methylene diphosphonate bone scintigraphy (BS), LS and an (18)FDG-PET scan within a 2-week period. Seven volunteers with ten asymptomatic hip prostheses were used as a control group and underwent BS and an (18)FDG-PET scan. Bacteriology of samples obtained by surgery or by needle aspiration and/or clinical follow-up for up to 6 months were used as the gold standard. Planar images of BS and LS (4 and 24 h p.i.) were acquired, followed by single-photon emission tomography (SPET) LS images (after 4 h). These images were scored as positive or negative by two experienced readers. The (18)FDG-PET scans of the patients were compared with the tracer distribution pattern in the asymptomatic control group and with BS. A phantom study was performed in order to identify artefacts. For this purpose, three different attenuation correction methods were tested. The combined analysis of the planar BS and LS resulted in a 75% sensitivity and a 78% specificity. The SPET LS images showed a better lesion contrast, resulting in an 88% sensitivity and a 100% specificity, while 24-h planar images were of no additional value. The analysis of PET images alone resulted in an 88% sensitivity and a 78% specificity. The combination of (18)FDG-PET and BS images resulted in an 88% sensitivity and a 67% specificity. Given the presence of small errors near the edge of the metal, which can induce significant artefacts in the corrected emission image, we decided to use the data without attenuation correction. In this preliminary study, (18)FDG-PET scans alone showed the same sensitivity as combined BS and LS, although the specificity was slightly lower.     

The usefulness of 99mTc tetrofosmin scintigraphy in patients with breast cancer recurrences

To verify the usefulness of 99mTc tetrofosmin scintigraphy in the follow-up of breast cancer patients, we studied 72 surgically treated breast cancer patients with suspected local recurrences (20 cases) or distant metastases (52 cases) at clinical examination and/or at conventional imaging procedures (CIPs). In all patients, a whole-body scan followed by planar and single photon emission tomography (SPET) images of selected sites were acquired 10 min after the intravenous injection of 740 MBq of 99mTc tetrofosmin, using a rectangular dual-head gamma camera equipped with high-resolution parallel-hole collimators. Loco-regional recurrences were diagnosed in 19 patients and distant metastases in 44 cases, while benign lesions were ascertained in nine cases. 99mTc tetrofosmin SPET showed higher sensitivity, specificity and accuracy per patient than did CIP (96.8% vs 85%, 77.7% vs 55.5% and 94.4% vs 81.1%, respectively) with statistical significance for accuracy (P <0.05). The combined use of SPET and CIP achieved 100% sensitivity and 98.6% accuracy. Planar imaging did not give additional information in respect of either SPET or CIP, showing significantly lower sensitivity and accuracy values (47.6% and 52.8%, respectively). Our data seem to suggest that 99mTc tetrofosmin SPET, but not planar, may be useful in the follow-up for the detection of loco-regional and distant recurrences in patients with breast cancer. The technique can play a complementary role to conventional diagnostic imaging procedures in selected patients.     

Fluorine-18 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose PET in the preoperative staging of breast cancer: comparison with the standard staging procedures

The present study compared the diagnostic accuracy of fluorine-18 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) with conventional staging techniques. The differentiation between malignant and benign lesions and the detection of multifocal disease, axillary and internal lymph node involvement, and distant metastases were evaluated. One hundred and seventeen female patients were prospectively examined using FDG-PET and conventional staging methods such as chest X-ray, ultrasonography of the breast and liver, mammography and bone scintigraphy. All patients were examined on a modern full-ring PET scanner. Histopathological analysis of resected specimens was employed as the reference method. The readers of FDG-PET were blinded to the results of the other imaging methods and to the site of the breast tumour. The sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET in detecting malignant breast lesions were 93% and 75% respectively. FDG-PET was twofold more sensitive (sensitivity 63%, specificity 95%) in detecting multifocal lesions than the combination of mammography and ultrasonography (sensitivity 32%, specificity 93%). Sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET in detecting axillary lymph node metastases were 79% and 92% (41% and 96% for clinical evaluation). FDG-PET correctly indicated distant metastases in seven patients. False-positive or false-negative findings were not encountered with FDG-PET. Chest X-ray was false-negative in three of five patients with lung metastases. Bone scintigraphy was false-positive in four patients. Three patients were upstaged since FDG-PET detected distant metastases missed with the standard staging procedure. It is concluded that, compared with the imaging methods currently employed for initial staging, FDG-PET is as accurate in interpreting the primary tumour and more accurate in screening for lymph node metastases and distant metastases. Due to a false-negative rate of 20% in detecting axillary lymph node metastases, FDG-PET cannot replace histological evaluation of axillary status.     

血清CA15-3、CEA检测联合全身骨显像在乳腺癌骨转移中的诊断价值

目的 评价血清肿瘤标志物糖类抗原15-3(CA15-3)、癌胚抗原(CEA)检测联合全身骨显像在乳腺癌骨转移诊断中的价值.方法 对97例乳腺癌患者(其中,骨转移组46例、无骨转移组51例)及45例良性乳腺疾病患者(良性病变组)行SPECT全身骨显像,对骨显像阴性但骨痛明显患者,再行CT或MRI检查以确诊.同时,用电化学...     

18F-FDG PET-CT与99Tcm-MDP骨显像对骨转移瘤诊断价值的对比研究

目的比较18F-FDG PET-CT和99Tcm-MDP全身骨显像对骨转移瘤的诊断价值。方法经病理学证实为恶性肿瘤且临床怀疑合并骨转移的患者32例,均行全身18F-FDG PET-CT扫描和99Tcm-MDP全身骨显像(检查间隔时间在2周之内)。比较相同扫描野内两者对骨转移病灶检出的敏感性、特异性及准确性。结果PET-CT对骨转移瘤诊断的敏感性、特异性及准确性分别为94.9%、91.7%和94.1%,骨显像分别为96.2%、54.2%和86.3%。18F-FDGPET-CT对骨转移瘤的诊断特异性高于99Tcm-MDP骨显像,敏感性和准确性二者无显著差异。结论18F-FDG PET-CT与99Tcm-MDP骨显像相比,对骨转移瘤的诊断特异性较高,对肿瘤良恶性的鉴别优于骨显像。     

FDG-avid sclerotic bone metastases in breast cancer patients: a PET/CT case series

Distant metastases from breast cancer most frequently occur in the skeleton. Although 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET), with or without computed tomography (CT), is superior to bone scintigraphy for the detection of osteolytic bone metastases, it has been reported that sclerotic bone metastases frequently show no or only a low degree of FDG uptake on PET and PET/CT. Since both lytic and sclerotic metastases can occur in breast cancer patients, bone scintigraphy may remain of additional value in these patients. In this case series, we describe four breast cancer patients in whom FDG PET/CT has clearly visualized sclerotic bone metastases because of increased FDG uptake. Not so much the type of metastasis (sclerotic or lytic), but possibly the characteristics of the primary tumor or treatments prior to the FDG PET/CT scan might influence the degree of FDG uptake of bone metastases. The ability to detect sclerotic bone metastases based on increased FDG uptake supports the use of FDG PET/CT as a staging procedure in breast cancer patients, but knowledge of factors determining the visibility of bone metastases with FDG PET/CT is crucial.     

18F-FDG PET与99Tcm- MDP显像诊断肿瘤骨转移的比较

目的　研究1 8F 脱氧葡萄糖 (FDG)PET显像对肿瘤骨转移的诊断价值 ,并与99Tcm 亚甲基二膦酸盐 (MDP)骨显像比较。方法　 4 3例确诊的肿瘤患者在 1个月内先后行1 8F FDGPET及99Tcm MDP骨显像 ,其中 2 4例经其他检查及随访证实为骨转移。对比分析 2种显像结果。结果　 2 4例骨转移患者FDGPET显像均为阳性 ,骨显像阳性 2 2例 ,灵敏度分别为 10 0 %和 91.7% ,差异无显著性 (P >0 0 5 )。19例无骨转移患者中FDGPET显像阴性 18例 ,骨显像阴性 11例 ,特异性分别为 94 .7%和5 7 9% ,差异有显著性 (P <0 0 5 )。 2种方法检测骨转移的准确性分别为 97.7%和 76 .7% ,差异有显著性 (P <0 0 5 )。结论　1 8F FDGPET显像诊断肿瘤骨转移的灵敏度与99Tcm MDP骨显像无明显差别 ,但有更高的特异性和准确性。     

Detection of bone metastases in breast cancer by positron emission tomography

Positron emission tomography (PET) is able to demonstrate changes in the metabolism of malignant tumors and metastases before they become visible on anatomical imaging. The skeleton is the most common site of distant metastases of breast cancer. There is convincing evidence that FDG-PET is more sensitive in detecting osteolytic metastases than bone scintigraphy, whereas bone scintigraphy is more sensitive in detecting osteoblastic metastases. Because both types of metastases can occur in breast cancer, bone scintigraphy and FDG-PET should be considered as complementary and can currently be regarded as standard of care for staging in breast cancer patients, whereas the decision to use F-18 fluoride PET should be made individually for each patient, depending on the expected change of therapy management.