Comparison of Positron Emission Tomography, Computed Tomography, and Endoscopic Ultrasound in the Initial Staging of Patients with Esophageal Cancer

Introduction Improvement in esophageal cancer staging is needed. Positron emission tomography (PET), computed tomography (CT), and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the staging of esophageal carcinoma were compared. Methods PET, CT, and EUS were performed and interpreted prospectively in 75 patients with newly diagnosed esophageal cancer. Either tissue confirmation or fine needle aspiration (FNA) was used as the gold standard of disease. Sensitivity and specificity for tumor, nodal, and metastatic (TNM) disease for each test were determined. TNM categorizations from each test were used to assign patients to subgroups corresponding to the three treatment plans that patients could theoretically receive, and these were then compared. Results Local tumor staging (T) was done correctly by CT and PET in 42% and by EUS in 71% of patients (P value > 0.14). The sensitivity and specificity for nodal involvement (N) by modality were 84% and 67% for CT, 86% and 67% for EUS, and 82% and 60% for PET (P value > 0.38). The sensitivity and specificity for distant metastasis were 81% and 82% for CT, 73% and 86% for EUS, and 81% and 91% for PET (P value > 0.25). Treatment assignment was done correctly by CT in 65%, by EUS in 75%, and by PET in 70% of patients (P value > 0.34). Conclusions EUS had superior T staging ability over PET and CT in our study group. The tests showed similar performance in nodal staging and there was a trend toward improved distant disease staging with CT or PET over EUS. Assignment to treatment groups in relation to TNM staging tended to be better by EUS. Each test contributed unique patient staging information on an individual basis. This work was presented in part at The Society of Nuclear Medicine Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA June 15–19, 2002.     

非小细胞肺癌淋巴结的无创分期评价

目的 本研究通过对经胸部CT解剖显像后的非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)患者进行18F-FDG PET全身扫描及经食管超声解剖显像，着重评估无创检查对NSCLC术前分期准确性及价值。方法 56例经病理证实的NSCLC术前患者经CT扫描、全身^18F-FDG PET显像，并与手术病理结果进行回顾性的分析。结果 所有56例NSCLC患者肺部及相应转移部位^18F-FDG摄取增高，^18F-FDG PET对预测NSCLC纵隔淋巴结转移的灵敏度为83％，特异性为91％，CT扫描纵隔淋巴结转移的灵敏度为58％，特异性为78％，其中38例行经食管超声解剖显像纵隔淋巴结转移的灵敏度为77％，特异性为72％。^18F-FDG PET对NSCLC对纵隔淋巴结优于胸部CT解剖显像和经食管超声解剖显像。结论 ^18F-FDG PET在对NSCLC的术前分期均优于CT等常规检查，但PET在精确定位方面仍然需要结合解剖显像，图像融合技术等是发展的方向。     

Endoscopic ultrasonography in patients with gastro-esophageal cancer.

For patients with gastro-esophageal cancer ultrasonography (EUS) is superior to any other imaging modality in the assessment of local tumor infiltration and local lymph nodes status. EUS is especially important in the preoperative staging of patients with esophageal cancer and patients with proximal gastric cancer. Here it allows for the identification of those patients with advanced disease who are unlikely to benefit from surgery and in whom a conservative palliative treatment is indicated. In advanced gastric cancer the clinical implications of EUS less clear. Still preoperative EUS is indicated in every patient with cancer of the proximal stomach to assess tumor infiltration in the esophagus. Relatively new is the use of EUS in staging early cancers in order to select patients for local endoscopic treatment. High-frequency miniprobes are the instruments of choice for imaging these lesions. Strict criteria should be applied in the selection of patients for local endoscopic treatment of early gastro-esophageal cancers. EUS guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is currently only indicated in patients with esophageal cancer and suspicious celiac lymph nodes. It may become more important if new treatment protocols demand more objective and reliable assessment of lymph node status.     

Integrated PET/CT Fusion Imaging and Endoscopic Ultrasound in the Pre-operative Staging and Evaluation of Esophageal Cancer

Purpose  

Accurate staging of esophageal cancer (ECA) is critical in determining appropriate therapy. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) scanning can be used, but limited data exists regarding the use of combined PET/CT fusion imaging and EUS in ECA staging. The objective of this study is to evaluate the role of integrated PET/CT imaging and EUS in the staging of ECA.     

NM23基因与非小细胞肺癌临床病理学特征及18F-FDG PET/CT影像特征的相关性

目的  比较非小细胞肺癌中NM23基因表达情况不同在其临床病理学特征、¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT影像特征、生存时间的差异。方法  选择2018年1月~2022年12月于新疆医科大学附属医院病理确诊为非小细胞癌的107例患者的术后标本,运用免疫组化方法检测NM23表达情况,分为NM23低表达组(≤++)（n=64）与NM23高表达组(>++)（n=43）,比较两组的临床病理学特征、¹⁸F-FDG FDG PET/CT图像上影像特征、生存期方面的差异。结果  NM23低表达组与高表达组在性别、临床分期、组织类型、分化程度、吸烟、PET/CT图像上生长部位、生存时间的差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）,但在原发灶分期、PET/CT图像上淋巴结转移情况的差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论  NM23基因在非小细胞癌患者T分期、淋巴结转移方面支持其为抑癌基因。     

Endoscopic ultrasonography in the diagnosis and staging of neoplasms of the head and neck

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is a minimally invasive and highly accurate method of detecting mediastinal lymph-node metastases in gastrointestinal and lung cancer. Little information is available regarding the use of EUS-FNA to stage tumors in the head and neck region. This study reports experience with EUS in the diagnosis and staging of these tumors and their mediastinal spread. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of patients who underwent EUS for diagnosis and/or staging of head and neck tumors were reviewed. Referral criteria were suspected invasion of the esophagus by a lower-neck mass on cervical computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or mediastinal lymphadenopathy > 10 mm on a chest CT. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients (23 men, nine women; mean age 65 years, range 44 - 80) were referred and underwent 35 EUS examinations. In one patient, EUS was not possible due to a benign esophageal stricture. In 17 patients with suspected esophageal invasion on CT scans, EUS demonstrated invasion of the esophagus in four cases and of the pleura in one; 12 tumors showed no visible invasion of adjacent structures. The other 17 examinations were carried out for suspected mediastinal metastatic disease. In eight cases, EUS-FNA confirmed metastatic disease, whereas only benign changes were shown in the other nine cases. EUS-FNA also provided the first tissue diagnosis in two primary tumors and identified malignancy in one patient with no CT suspicion of positive mediastinal lymph nodes. EUS avoided the need for more invasive investigations in all patients with mediastinal lymphadenopathy, and it changed the management in 12 of the 17 patients (71 %) with suspected esophageal invasion and in eight of the 17 patients (47 %) with suspected mediastinal disease. CONCLUSIONS: EUS with FNA provides a viable approach to the diagnosis and staging of tumors in the head and neck region when there is a suggestion of esophageal invasion on CT or MRI, or enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes. EUS with FNA may avoid the need for mediastinoscopy or other more invasive techniques for staging of these neoplasms.     

胸段食管癌淋巴结转移分布特征的螺旋CT表现

目的：探讨胸段食管癌颈胸腹部三野淋巴结转移的分布特征及其螺旋CT表现。资料与方法：对200例手术病理证实为胸段食管癌的CT资料进行回顾性分析,所有病例均经手术病理证实或影像标准诊断有淋巴结转移。根据本组200例CT所反映的肿大淋巴结的分布情况,将颈胸腹部三野淋巴结分为19组。设定淋巴结的短径≥1cm为淋巴结转移阳性标准,统计各组阳性淋巴结的出现率,观察淋巴结转移的位置、形态、大小、数目及强化情况。结果：200例食管癌中,共有546个部位观察到淋巴结转移。食管癌的淋巴结转移以右下气管旁组（40.0%,80例）、主肺动脉窗组（34.0%,68例）、隆突下组（27.0%,54例）最多,膈上组（2.5%,5例）及脾动脉组（1.5%,3例）最少。结论：食管癌淋巴结转移主要分布在右下气管旁组、主肺动脉窗组及隆突下组。螺旋CT检查可以较为准确地显示食管癌三野淋巴结的转移情况。     

Preoperative staging of colorectal cancer: CT vs. integrated FDG PET/CT

Accurate preoperative staging is essential in determining the optimal therapeutic planning for individual patients. The computed tomography (CT) in the preoperative staging of colorectal cancer, even if controversial, may be useful for planning surgery and/or neoadjuvant therapy, particularly when local tumor extension into adjacent organs or distant metastases are detected. There have been significant changes in the CT technology with the advent of multi-detector row CT (MDCT) scanner. Advances in CT technology have raised interest in the potential role of CT for detection and staging of colorectal cancer. In recent studies, MDCT with MPR images has shown promising accuracy in the evaluation of local extent and nodal involvement of colorectal cancer. Combined PET/CT images have significant advantages over either alone because it provides both functional and anatomical data. Therefore, it is natural to expect that PET/CT would improve the accuracy of preoperative staging of colorectal cancer. The most significant additional information provided by PET/CT relates to the accurate detection of distant metastases. For the evaluation of patients with colorectal cancer, CT has relative advantages over PET/CT in regard to the depth of tumor invasion through the wall, extramural extension, and regional lymph node metastases. PET/CT should be performed on selected patients with suggestive but inconclusive metastatic lesions with CT. In addition, PET/CT with dedicated CT protocols, such as contrast-enhanced PET/CT and PET/CT colonography, may replace the diagnostic CT for the preoperative staging of colorectal cancer.     

增强CT在食管癌术前分期及切除可行性临床效果分析

目的:探讨增强CT在食管癌术前分期及切除可行性临床效果。方法:回顾性分析我院2017年7月-2019年10月收治的58例食管癌患者,所有患者均采用术前分期和手术病理检查,对比增强CT在食管癌术前T、N分期的准确性,分析两种方法检查肿瘤浸润及淋巴结转移的一致性。结果:对比病理诊断T1、T2、T3、T4结果,CT增强扫描中与其相符的例数分别为3例、12例、30例和4例,诊断准确性为84.48%。对比病理诊断N0、N1结果,CT增强扫描中与其相符的例数分别为39例、7例,诊断准确性为79.31%。对比病理诊断淋巴结有转移、无转移结果,CT增强扫描中与其相符的例数分别为41例、6例,诊断准确性为81.03%。结论:增强CT在食管癌术前分期及切除可行性临床效果好,临床应用价值较高,值得推广使用。     

内镜超声结合E-钙粘素和CD44v6检查在食管癌诊断中的价值

目的　探讨术前内镜超声检查 (EUS)及E -钙粘素 (E -CD)、CD4 4v6表达在食管癌术前分期诊断中的价值。方法　对 5 8例食管鳞癌患者术后标本应用SP法检测E -CD和CD4 4v6的表达 ,对其中 30例食管鳞癌患者术前进行了EUS。结果　EUS诊断食管鳞癌术前TNM分期与术后病理分期对照 ,其T期总的准确率为 83% ,N期总的准确率为 77%。E -CD、CD4 4v6阳性表达率与食管鳞癌患者肿瘤细胞浸润深度、淋巴结转移显著有关 (P <0 .0 1) ,与食管癌患者临床分期有关 (P <13.0 5 )。但在食管鳞癌原发灶中E -CD和CD4 4v6表达无相关性 (P >0 .0 5 )。食管癌患者中UESTN分期与E -CD、CD4 4v6阳性表达率显著相关 (P<0 .0 1)。结论　E -CD和CD4 4v6均可反映食管癌生物学行为的指标 ,将两种细胞粘附分子的检测与EUS结合起来 ,能更准确地对食管癌患者进行TNM分期。     

超声内镜对食管癌的诊断价值

应用超声内镜（EUS）对23例食管癌患者进行T分期诊断。结果表明：EUS诊断癌的浸润深度与病理诊断的总符合率为83．75％；EUS诊断淋巴结转移与病理诊断的符合率为80％。EUS对食管癌手术治疗的方式有重要意义，将成为术前重要的检查手段。     

Nodal staging in rectal cancer

Rectal cancer is common and nodal disease is an independent adverse prognostic factor for patient survival. Accurate demonstration of the presence and location of nodal disease preoperatively may influence management strategies. In this article we review the pathways of nodal spread in rectal cancer and assessment of nodal disease using sonography, CT, and MRI. The use of morphological criteria instead of size criteria has been shown to improve nodal staging by MRI. The potential role of magnetic resonance lymphography and PET imaging in further improving nodal staging accuracy is discussed.     

CT、MRI及与PET融合显像评价宫颈癌分期及淋巴结转移中的应用进展

传统影像学检查方法(CT、MRI)在宫颈癌分期及淋巴结转移的诊断方面应用较为广泛,对制定治疗方案、改善预后和降低死亡率有重要的作用。近年来,随着分子影像技术的发展,多模态分子影像技术(PET/CT及PET/MR)被逐渐应用于宫颈癌的诊断并指导治疗。本文对CT、MRI及与PET融合显像技术在宫颈癌分期及淋巴结转移评价中的临床应用进行综述。     

68Ga-FAPI和18F-FDG PET/CT在头颈部肿瘤中的对比研究

目的  对比⁶⁸Ga-FAPI PET/CT和¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT在头颈部肿瘤诊断与分期中的价值。方法  收集2020年10月~2022年6月于我科行⁶⁸Ga-FAPI和¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT双显像的45例头颈部肿瘤患者,分别用两种显像对所有患者进行初始分期,比较二者对原发灶及转移灶的检出率及最大标准摄取值（SUV_max）和靶比底比值（TBR）的差异。结果  ⁶⁸Ga-FAPI和¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT对原发肿瘤、淋巴结转移、远处转移的检出率分别为97.78%、97.78%,90.48%、96.54%,75%、87.5%。原发肿瘤的FAPI-SUV_max和FDG-SUV_max分别为10.90、10.45,差异无统计学意义（P=0.551）;FAPI-TBR和FDG-TBR分别为11.50、9.80,差异有统计学意义（P=0.007）。⁶⁸Ga-FAPI PET/CT上调了6例T分期,低估了2例T分期、1例N分期与1例M分期;¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT低估了1例N分期与1例M分期,高估了7例N分期与1例M分期。结论  ⁶⁸Ga-FAPI PET/CT对头颈部肿瘤的检测能力与¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT相当,对淋巴结转移、远处转移的检出率低于¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT,但⁶⁸Ga-FAPI PET/CT减少了假阳性淋巴结的检出,对T分期、N分期及M分期的准确性高于¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT。     

Multimodality imaging evaluation of esophageal cancer: staging, therapy assessment, and complications

Esophageal cancer is among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The management of patients with esophageal cancer is determined to a large extent by patient performance status, location of the primary cancer, and stage of disease at presentation. Multimodality regimens combining neoadjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy followed by surgery have been increasingly used in suitable candidates with locally advanced cancer. There is substantial morbidity and mortality associated with this treatment strategy, which makes appropriate patient selection important. Endoscopic esophageal ultrasound is the optimal modality to evaluate the local extent of the primary tumor and diagnose locoregional nodal metastasis. Computed tomography is more useful in detecting distant nodal and systemic metastasis. Positron emission tomography/CT is increasingly being used in patient management and improves the accuracy of staging, particularly in the detection of distant nodal and systemic metastatic disease. In this article, we review the role of imaging in the staging, assessment of therapeutic response, and detection of recurrent disease, as well as the evaluation of therapeutic complications in patients with esophageal cancer.     

PET/CT在食管癌分期诊断中的价值

目的评价18F-FDG PET/CT在食管癌分期诊断中的价值。方法对86例病理已明确证实为食管癌的患者进行PET/CT检查,利用18F-FDG在肿瘤病灶及转移灶中的高代谢原理,分析全身各系统病灶放射性摄取的最大标准摄取值（SUVmax）,对患者进行准确的诊断分析。结果 PET/CT的分期准确率（88.4%）以及区域淋巴结转移检查的敏感性（63.3%）、特异性（83.8%）均较单纯CT高。结论 18F-FDG PET/CT检查对食道癌患者的临床分期和治疗选择具有重要的指导意义。     

18F-FDG PET/CT诊断非小细胞肺癌纵隔淋巴结转移

目的 探讨¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT诊断非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）纵隔淋巴结转移的价值。方法 回顾性分析130例初诊NSCLC患者（337个纵隔淋巴结）术前PET/CT资料,与术后病理结果相对照,评价PET/CT诊断NSCLC纵隔淋巴结转移的灵敏度、特异度及准确率。结果 以患者为观察单位,PET/CT发现纵隔淋巴结转移66例,无纵隔淋巴结转移64例,灵敏度79.41%（54/68）,特异度80.65%（50/62）,准确率80.00%（104/130）,阳性预测值81.82%（54/66）,阴性预测值78.13%（50/64）;以淋巴结数为单位,PET/CT诊断纵隔淋巴结转移125个,非纵隔淋巴结212个,PET/CT诊断纵隔淋巴结转移的灵敏度74.42%（96/129）,特异度86.06%（179/208）,准确率81.60%（275/337）,阳性预测值76.80%（96/125）,阴性预测值84.43%（179/212）。PET/CT结果与病理结果比较差异无统计学意义。结论 ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT诊断NSCLC纵隔淋巴结转移具有较高价值。     

Distant lymph node metastases in esophageal cancer: impact of endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the impact of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided biopsy in patients with esophageal carcinoma where distant lymph nodes which were possibly metastatic were visualized using EUS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Out of 198 patients (150 men, mean age 66 years) examined over a 4-year period by EUS for local staging of esophageal cancer (121 squamous cell carcinomas and 77 adenocarcinomas), there was EUS visualization of distant lymph nodes in 40 (20%). EUS-guided biopsy was carried out in the latter patients, of cervical nodes with mediastinal tumors (n = 19), of celiac nodes with cervical tumors (n = 2) or superior mediastinal tumors (n = 9), and upper mediastinal lymph nodes in the case of distal adenocarcinomas (n = 10). RESULTS: On EUS-guided biopsy, results were positive in 31 patients, eight were correctly negative (as confirmed by surgery), and in one patient there was a technical failure, with positive findings on subsequent surgery. The sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis of malignant lymph nodes were therefore 97% and 100% respectively. The positive results of EUS-guided biopsy modified the tumor staging in 31 of these cases (77.5%), proving distant lymph node metastasis which is classified as stage M1. With regard to actual clinical management, surgery was withheld from 24 patients (60% of 40 cases) who were then treated with concomitant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: EUS-guided biopsy of distant lymph nodes was indicated in 20% of patients with esophageal cancers, and the biopsy results led to upgrading of the tumor stage in about 80% of cases and influenced the treatment decision in about 60%.     

Imaging for Predicting the Risk Factors—the Circumferential Resection Margin and Nodal Disease—of Local Recurrence in Rectal Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

The aim of the present study was to conduct a meta-analysis of English literature on the accuracy of preoperative imaging in predicting the two most important risk factors for local recurrence in rectal cancer, the circumferential resection margin (CRM) and the nodal status (N-status). Articles published between 1985 and August 2004 that report on the diagnostic accuracy of endoluminal ultrasound (EUS), computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of lymph node involvement were included. A similar search was done for the assessment of the circumferential resection margin in rectal cancer in the period from January 1985 till January 2005. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) more than 20 patients with histologically proven rectal cancer were included, (2) histology was used as the gold standard, and (3) results were given in a 2 x 2 contingency table or this table could otherwise be extracted from the article by two independent readers. Based on the results summary receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed. Only 7 articles matching inclusion criteria were found concerning the CRM. The meta-analysis shows that MRI is rather accurate in diagnosing a close or involved CRM. For nodal status 84 articles could be included. The diagnostic odds ratio of EUS is estimated at 8.83. For MRI and CT, the diagnostic odds ratio are 6.53 and 5.86, respectively. The results show that EUS is slightly, but not significantly, better than MRI or CT for identification of nodal disease. There is no significant difference between the different modalities with respect to staging nodal status. At present, MRI is the only modality that predicts the circumferential resection margin with good accuracy, making it a good tool to identify high and low risk patients. Predicting the N-status remains a problem for the radiologist for every modality, although considering the new developments in MR imaging, this may change in the near future.     

超声内镜与CT对消化道恶性肿瘤术前分期的价值比较

目的 探讨超声内镜与ＣＴ在消化道恶性肿瘤术前分期中的价值。方法 ４３例临床确诊为消化道恶性肿瘤的患者,术前分别行超声内镜和ＣＴ分期,并与术后病理结果对照。结果 浸润层次（Ｔ分期）方面,超声内镜准确性为８８．４％（３８／４３）,ＣＴ为５５．８％（２４／４３）。过低分期超声内镜、ＣＴ分别为４．６％和３０．２％,过高分期分别为７．０％和１４．０％。超声内镜、ＣＴ术前Ｔ分期与术后病理分期准确率比较,经ｘ＾