~（18）F-FDG PET/CT对治疗前淋巴瘤分期的临床价值

目的探讨18F-FDG PET/CT显像对治疗前淋巴瘤临床分期的价值。方法回顾性分析63例初次诊断为淋巴瘤病人的PET/CT及常规影像学检查结果。结果 PET/CT与常规影像学检查对63例淋巴瘤病人分期的一致率为30.2%（19/63）。与常规影像学检查结果相比,18F-FDG PET/CT显像使69.8%（44/63）的淋巴瘤病人临床分期发生改变。其中17.4%（11/63）的病例在PET/CT检查中发现有多区域淋巴结及多个结外器官受累,肝或骨髓受累,淋巴瘤的临床分期从Ⅰ期上调至Ⅳ期;有25.4%（16/63）的病例在PET/CT检查中发现多区域淋巴结累及,分期上调一期;其余27.0%（17/63）的病例在PET/CT检查中发现多区域淋巴结或多个结外器官受累,临床分期上调两期。结论 18F-FDG PET/CT显像对治疗前淋巴瘤临床分期的价值优于常规影像学检查,有利于制定合理有效的治疗方案。     

^18F-FDGPET/CT在非霍奇金淋巴瘤疗效评价中的应用价值

目的探讨18F-FDGPET/CT显像对非霍奇金淋巴瘤治疗疗效的价值。方法收集2004.9～2008.11在我院PET中心接受至少2次PET/CT检查,分为初诊的在PET/CT扫描前未治疗非霍奇金淋巴瘤组（A组）或经过放疗及化疗后的治疗组（B组）为研究对象。所有病例随访至少6个月。结果未治疗的非霍奇金淋巴瘤组的32例中,3例颅内淋巴瘤中2例在9个月内复发;21例经过6个疗程化疗后PET/CT为阴性,仅有1例复发（5%）;1例3个疗程化疗后SUV降低达92.9%的化疗效果佳;而8例PET/CT阳性者预后不理想。治疗组病例中,PET/CT阴性的11例NHL,复发3例（27%）;而PET/CT阳性的25例中,19例复发（76%）,PET阳性组的肿瘤复发与阴性组差异有显著性（P〈0.05）。结论本研究表明18F-FDGPET/CT显像能很好的评价非霍奇金淋巴瘤的治疗效果,且可早期预测治疗效果及预后。     

18^F-FDG PET在淋巴瘤分期和疗效评价中的应用

目的：探讨18^氟-氟代脱氧葡萄糖-正电子发射计算机断层显像（fluorine-18fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography，”F-FDG PET）在淋巴瘤分期和疗效评价中的应用价值。方法：回顾分析45例淋巴瘤患者（治疗前23例，治疗后22例）18^F-FDG PET检测淋巴结和结外病变的结果，并与CT、MRI及骨髓活检结果进行比较。结果：（1）治疗前23例52处病灶18^F-FDG PET检出50处，检出率为96．2％；其中结内29个检出27个（93．1%），结外23个全部检出（100％）。CT则共检出36个（69．2％），其中结内检出26个（89．7％），结外仅检出10个（43．5％）。18^F-FDG PET对结内检出敏感性与CT类似，而结外敏感性远高于CT（P％0．01）。（2）治疗后22例25个病灶18^F-FDG-PET阴性18处，特异性为72％；CT为44．0％，P〉0．05，两者差别无统计学意义，考虑可能与病例数少有关。（3）骨／骨髓受累在45例患者中，40例18^F-FDG PET与骨髓活检结果一致，3例18^F-FDG PET阳性而骨髓活检阴性，行MRI检查，2例阳性，另外2例骨髓活检阳性而18^F-FDG PET阴性。结论：18^F-FDG PET在淋巴瘤的分期和疗效评价中具有较高的敏感和特异性，有助于准确分期和残余病变性质的鉴别。18^F-FDG PET有一定比率的假阳性和假阴性，因此需与其它检查联合进行以提高病变检出阳性率和准确性。     

基线PET/CT显像骨髓18F-FDG摄取模式预测DLBCL预后的价值

目的：探讨弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤(DLBCL)治疗前¹⁸F-脱氧葡萄糖(¹⁸F-FDG)PET/CT显像中骨髓摄取模式对预测DLBCL患者预后的价值。方法：回顾性分析156例DLBCL患者的临床资料,所有患者治疗前均行骨髓活检、骨髓涂片、流式细胞分析和¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT扫描。以正常肝脏¹⁸F-FDG摄取为标准,将患者骨髓摄取模式分为骨髓摄取局灶型增高(f PET+)、骨髓摄取弥漫型增高(d PET+)及骨髓摄取正常型(n PET)。生存分析采用Kaplan-Meier法,组间差异比较采用log-rank检验,采用多因素Cox回归分析确定与预后相关的危险因素。结果：156例患者中,f PET+17例,d PET+28例,n PET 111例。临床诊断骨髓浸润阳性21例,阴性135例。复发进展62例,死亡18例。单因素分析显示,Ann Arbor分期Ⅲ/Ⅳ期、B症状、NCCN-IPI评分、乳酸脱氢酶、骨髓浸润及f PET+与患者无进展生存期(PFS)有关(均P<0.05);Ann Arbor...     

疗前18F-FDG PET/CT对鼻咽癌颈部散在小淋巴结的临床诊断价值

目的 探讨疗前18F-FDG PET/CT对CT或MRI显示阴性的鼻咽癌颈部散在小淋巴结(最大横断面短径≥0.5 cm但<1 cm、包膜完整、无中央坏死)的临床诊断价值.方法 选取经病理组织学确诊、疗前CT或MRI检查可见颈部散在小淋巴结的初治鼻咽癌患者,进行头颈部或全身18F-FDG PET/CT检查;在超声引导下对散在小淋巴结进行细针穿刺活检.对比18F-FDG PET/CT显像及穿刺病理结果,计算18F-FDG PET/CT诊断符合率,分析18F-FDG PET/CT检查对N分期的影响.结果 2004年12月至2009年8月共30例患者进入本研究.根据CT或MRI诊断N0~3期分别为3例、13例、13例、1例.30例患者颈部共发现散在小淋巴结31枚,最大横断面短径为0.5~0.8 cm(中位0.6 cm);其中18F-FDG PET/CT显像阳性15枚,阴性16枚;穿刺病理结果显示,15枚显像阳性的小淋巴结中病理阳性13枚,阴性2枚;16枚显像阴性的小淋巴结病理均为阴性.18F-FDG PET/CT的诊断准确率、灵敏性和特异性分别为93.5%、100%和88.9%;阳性和阴性预测值分别为86.7%和100%.与基于CT或MRI的N分期比较,18F-FDG PET/CT检查示5例患者N分期升级.结论 疗前18F-FDG PET/CT检查用于诊断CT或MRI显示阴性的鼻咽癌颈部散在小淋巴结有较高的准确性,有助于鼻咽癌准确分期.     

~(18)F-FDG PET/CT对B细胞淋巴瘤相关噬血细胞综合征患者的临床价值

目的:探讨~(18)F-FDG PET/CT在B细胞淋巴瘤相关噬血细胞综合征的临床应用价值。方法:回顾性分析23例确诊的B细胞淋巴瘤相关噬血细胞综合征患者的临床特点、实验室指标及~(18)F-FDG PET/CT显像资料。对pET参数与各实验室指标的相关性采用Spearman检验,对影响生存的不同因素采用Kaplan-Meier法分析。结果:23例患者于化疗前均行~(18)F-FDG PET/CT检查,脾脏的~(18)F-FDG摄取只与中性粒细胞计数及血红蛋白含量具有相关性(r=0.588,P=0.035;r=0.699,P=0.008),而骨髓的~(18)F-FDG摄取仅与中性粒细胞计数具有相关性(r=0.691,P=0.009);在所有的临床特点、实验室指标及~(18)F-FDGPET/CT检查参数中,只有PET参数是影响B细胞淋巴瘤相关噬血细胞综合征预后的不良因素。6例患者于化疗6周期后行第2次~(18)F-FDG PET/CT检查,化疗后PET/CT结果阴性患者5例,无1例死亡;化疗后PET/CT检测结果阳性患者1例,治疗无效死亡。结论:化疗前~(18)F-FDG PET/CT检测能够预测B细胞淋巴瘤相关噬血细胞综合征的预后,化疗后PET/CT检测结果阴性预示患者有较好的预后。     

淋巴瘤治疗后残留淋巴结超声与PET/CT检查的对比研究

目的 比较淋巴瘤治疗后残留淋巴结超声特征与PET/CT显像特点,探讨其在淋巴瘤疗效检测上的价值.方法 对32例淋巴瘤患者治疗后77枚残留浅表淋巴结分别进行彩色多普勒超声检查和PET/CT检查,采用两种方法判断肿瘤残余情况,并结合临床及残留淋巴结穿刺活检的病理结果进行比较分析.结果 在77枚淋巴结中超声判断肿瘤残余情况73枚与病理或临床结果一致(占94.8%),PET/CT判断情况75枚与病理或临床结果一致(97.4%).超声显示有肿瘤残余组较无肿瘤残余组淋巴结长径(L)/短径(S)值小、血供丰富、血流速度快、R1低(P＜0.05).PET/CT检查显示有肿瘤残余组淋巴结处于高代谢状态,无肿瘤残余组淋巴结内无异常高代谢.有肿瘤残余组淋巴结超声指标与PET/CT显示高代谢间有一定关联.结论 两种方法诊断准确率较高,均对临床疗效评估有重要实用价值,超声检查可以作为常规检查手段.     

18F-FDG PET/CT对初诊弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤骨髓浸润的诊断及预后评估价值

目的：评价¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT对初诊弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤(DLBCL)骨髓浸润的诊断价值，并与骨髓活检(BMB)结果进行比较，探讨¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT诊断的骨髓浸润及其他因素是否有独立的预后预测价值。方法：纳入94例在南京医科大学附属上海一院临床医学院行PET/CT检查的初诊DLBCL患者，PET/CT检查前后2周内行骨髓活检，检查后行规范化治疗。记录各病例的PET/CT骨髓摄取表现。骨髓浸润的诊断标准为BMB阳性或影像学随访证实有PET/CT局灶性骨髓浸润灶。比较PET/CT骨髓不同摄取表现的患者临床资料差异并对照分析PET/CT与BMB诊断骨髓浸润的价值。Kaplan-Meier法绘制生存曲线分析患者组间无进展生存期(PFS)差异，log-rank检验比较组间PFS率差异，COX回归模型分析影响PFS的独立危险因素。结果：94例DLBCL患者中，¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT表现为局灶性骨髓摄取(f PET)34例，超级骨髓摄取(s BMU)7例，高于肝实质的弥漫均匀性摄取(d PET)11例，其余42例...     

18F-FDG PET/CT在肝细胞癌治疗后不明原因AFP升高者中的临床应用价值

目的：探讨18F-FDG PET/CT在肝细胞癌治疗后AFP升高而常规检查不能明确诊断的患者中的临床应用价值。方法：回顾性分析肝细胞癌行外科切除、肝动脉化疗栓塞（TACE）或射频消融（RFA）术治疗后AFP升高而常规检查未发现异常的17例患者的18F-FDG PET/CT图像,并和组织学、影像学及临床随访对比,临床随访时间均大于6个月。结果：17例患者中12例确诊肝细胞癌复发,6例病灶位于肝内,3例病灶位于肝外,3例肝内外均发现病灶。肝外病灶为淋巴结转移3例,骨转移1例,双肺及左腹直肌转移1例,双肺及右膈肌脚转移1例。18F-FDG PET/CT诊断肝内复发7例,肝外转移6例。18F-FDG PET/CT诊断肝细胞癌治疗后复发真阳性10例,假阴性3例,真阴性4例,假阳性0例,其灵敏度、特异性、准确性、阳性预测值、阴性预测值分别为77%、100%、82%、100%、57%。结论：对肝细胞癌治疗后AFP升高而常规检查正常患者,18F-FDG PET/CT对发现其肝内复发及肝外转移有重要临床价值。     

18F-FDG PET/CT在T细胞淋巴瘤疗效评价中的临床价值

目的 探讨18 F-FDG PET/CT在T细胞淋巴瘤临床再分期、评价疗效、监测复发及提示预后方面的临床价值.方法 回顾性分析34例T细胞淋巴瘤患者的PET/CT显像结果,评价其在临床再分期、评价疗效、监测复发及提示预后方面的价值.结果 34例患者中20例分期Ⅰ～Ⅱ期者治疗后6例分期上调,9例分期下调,5例分期未改变;14例分期Ⅲ～Ⅳ期者治疗后3例分期上调,4例分期下调,7例分期未改变.34例T细胞淋巴瘤患者中12例达完全缓解(CR),11例达部分缓解(PR),2例处于稳定(SD)状态,9例进展(PD).34例患者中有25例至少经6个疗程化疗后行PET/CT检查,疗效较佳组的标准化摄取(SUV)值比疗效不佳组的SUV值小(分别为4.3±3.1和11.2+6.1),差异有统计学意义(P =0.009).8例患者于治疗前后均行PET/CT检查,治疗前后SUV值差异有统计学意义(P=0.000).25例外周T细胞淋巴瘤至少经6个疗程化疗后PET/CT评价疗效较佳组与疗效不佳组的平均生存时间(分别为82.7和39.5个月)差异有统计学意义(P=0.015).结论 T细胞淋巴瘤治疗后行PET/CT检查对于指导临床再分期、评价疗效、监测复发及提示预后有一定意义,有助于临床早期判断疗效及制定个体化治疗方案.     

2-Deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography monitoring disease progress in a patient with islet carcinoma of the pancreas.

A woman with islet cell carcinoma of the pancreas proven by biopsy at an exploratory laparotomy underwent six cycles of chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin. After the chemotherapy to monitor her primary tumor and hepatic metastases, she had three consecutive 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) determinations that correlated with an In-111 octreotide single photon emission computer tomography. FDG-PET might have utility in monitoring islet cell carcinoma of the pancreas in evaluating metabolic changes following chemotherapy.     

Expression of glucose transporter-1, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and protein kinase B (Akt) in relation to [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in nasopharyngeal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a case report and literature review

This report presents a case of nasopharyngeal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and a literature review concerning the use of [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). A 37-year old man was admitted to hospital complaining of nasal secretions with minor epistaxis and a 20-year history of snoring. Nasal endoscopy found diffuse swelling in the nasopharynx and a biopsy was performed. Prior to chemotherapy, FDG-PET/CT showed soft tissue diffuse thickening and FDG accumulation in the nasopharynx and bilateral cervical lymph nodes; FDG did not accumulate elsewhere. After four cycles of chemotherapy (rituximab, cyclo phosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine) and prednisone treatment, FDG-PET/CT showed that FDG still accumulated in the nasopharynx and bilateral cervical lymph nodes, therefore radiotherapy was initiated. At 1 year, FDG-PET/CT showed no FDG accumulation. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the tumour was positive for phosphorylated protein kinase B (Akt), suggesting that FDG uptake may be associated with factors activated by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signalling pathway.     

左室扭转运动联合高敏肌钙蛋白评估蒽环类药物的早期心肌毒性

  目的   应用三维斑点追踪成像技术获取左室扭转运动相关参数联合血清高敏肌钙蛋白(Hs-cTnT),评估乳腺癌术后蒽环类化疗药物早期心肌毒性的发生。   方法   82例蒽行环类药物化疗的乳腺癌术后患者,于化疗前(Ⅰ组)、化疗2周期(Ⅱ组)、化疗4周期(Ⅲ组)、化疗6周期(Ⅳ组)获取Hs-cTnT、左室扭转运动参数及常规三维参数,比较各参数对于评价早期心肌毒性的敏感度,分析左室扭转运动与Hs-cTnT的相关性。   结果   4组左室扭转运动参数(左室扭转角度峰值、左室扭矩)依次减低(P < 0.05)。左室扭转角度峰值及左室扭矩的曲线下面积分别为0.954、0.912,且具有高特异性和高敏感度。各组血清Hs-cTnT测值小于正常值,但随药物剂量累计而升高(P < 0.05);Pearson相关性分析表明,化疗周期中左室扭转运动参数与血清Hs-cTnT浓度呈负相关关系(左室扭转角度峰值:r=-0.467,P < 0.001;左室扭矩:r=-0.419,P < 0.001)。   结论   左室扭转运动能够早期监测左室心肌功能的改变,评估蒽环类化疗药物致乳腺癌术后患者的心肌损伤。      

18氟-氟代脱氧葡萄糖-正电子发射计算机断层显像在淋巴瘤分期和疗效评价中的作用

目的 探讨18氟-氟代脱氧葡萄糖(FDG)-正电子发射计算机断层显像(PET)在淋巴瘤分期和疗效评价中的应用价值.方法 回顾性分析179例淋巴瘤患者FDG-PET检测淋巴结和结外病变的结果,并与计算机断层显像(CT)和骨髓活检结果进行比较.采用国际工作组织淋巴瘤疗效标准(IWC)和修订完善的国际工作组织淋巴瘤疗效标准(IWC+PET)评估患者的疗效.结果 治疗前98例患者286处病灶FDG-PET检出219处,检出率为77%;其中结内215个病灶检出157个(73%),结外检出62个(87%);CT则共检出182个(64%),其中结内检出150个(70%),结外仅检出32个(45%).FDG-PET对结内、结外病灶的检m阳性检出率远高于CT(P＜0.01).治疗后81例患者104处病灶,FDG-PET阳性率和特异性分别为81%和68%;CT的阳性检出率和特异性分别为55%和33%,FDG-PET的阳性检出率和特异性高于CT(P＜0.01).IWC标准完全缓解(CR)或不确定的完全缓解(CRu)患者33例,其中8例(24%)复发,FDG-PET阴性患者复发率为21%,而FDG-PET阳性患者复发率为40%.33例患者使用IWC+PET标准重新评估,25例患者CR,其中5例复发(20%).179例患者中133例(74%)FDG-PET检查结果与骨髓活检结果一致,22例FDG-PET阳性患者骨髓活检阴性,FDG-PET的阳性检出率为52%,特异性为83%.结论 FDG-PET在淋巴瘤的分期和疗效评价中具有较高的阳性检出率和特异性,有助于患者准确分期和残余病变性质的鉴别.     

Positron emission tomography with 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro-D-glucose for evaluating local and distant disease in patients with cervical cancer.

PURPOSE: To assess the accuracy of positron emission tomography (PET) with 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) for evaluating local and distant disease in patients with cervical cancer. METHODS: The PET imaging database maintained at our institution was used to identify patients who received FDG-PET scans for the clinical indication of cervical cancer for the past four years. Patients were followed for a minimum of six months following the PET study. Results of the FDG-PET studies were correlated with surgical pathology, biopsy results, and/or clinical follow up to assess the accuracy of FDG-PET in evaluating local and distant disease. RESULTS: A total of 61 FDG-PET studies performed in 41 patients were included in this retrospective study. Nine FDG-PET studies were performed for initial staging of cervical cancer, and 52 PET scans were performed in 35 different patients as restaging studies following therapy. For the initial staging, the local primary disease was identified in all nine FDG-PET studies, and PET distinguished the patients which had localized disease (four patients) from those with distant metastases on follow-up (five patients) with 100% accuracy. For restaging cervical cancer, FDG-PET had a sensitivity of 0.82 and specificity of 0.97 (accuracy 0.92) for evaluation of local recurrence. For evaluating distant disease in these patients, PET had a sensitivity of 1.00 and specificity of 0.90 (accuracy 0.94). In the evaluation of local disease, focal rectal activity caused false-positive results in two cases. Three false-positive studies for distant disease were caused by inflammatory adenopathy. CONCLUSION: FDG-PET is an accurate modality both for initial staging and restaging of patients with cervical cancer. PET is particularly sensitive for detecting distant metastases, allowing stratification of patients into those with locally confined disease and those with distant disease. These results were achieved by using a standardized PET imaging protocol without the use of bowel preparations, lasix administration, or Foley catheter drainage. Evaluation of local disease can be challenging due to adjacent rectal and bladder activity, and the use of hybrid PET/computed tomography (CT) scanners in the future may further improve evaluation of local disease.     

Positron emission tomography using 2-deoxy-2-[18F]-fluoro-D-glucose for response monitoring in locally advanced gastroesophageal cancer; a comparison of different analytical methods.

PURPOSE: To determine the ability of 2-deoxy-2-[18F]-fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) to monitor response in locally advanced gastroesophageal cancer (LAGEC). Additionally, optimal FDG-PET methods for response monitoring were selected. PROCEDURES: Sequential dynamic FDG-PET scans were performed in 13 patients with LAGEC (T2-3N0-1M0-1a) treated with neoadjuvant cisplatin and gemcitabine plus granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating growth factor at a three weekly schedule. The standard FDG-PET method, nonlinear regression (NLR), was compared with computed tomography (CT), endoscopic-ultrasound (EUS), and histopathology as well as with 21 simplified analytical FDG-PET methods. RESULTS: Five out of 12 operated tumors responded histopathologically with less than 10% residual tumorcells (42%). These had a higher decrease in FDG uptake compared with nonresponders (P=0.008). Early (after two cycles) and late (after completed induction therapy) response evaluation showed a specificity of 86% and 100%, respectively, and a sensitivity of 100%. Both FDG-PET and EUS were superior to CT. From 21 methods analyzing FDG uptake, the quantitative Patlak analysis, the simplified kinetic method (SKM), and the semiquantitative standardized uptake value corrected for bodyweight (SUV-BW) seemed to correlate best with NLR. CONCLUSIONS: FDG-PET reliably predicted response in LAGEC. FDG-PET measurements using Patlak analysis or the more clinical applicable SKM and SUV-BW were acceptable alternatives to NLR.     

Antiemetic efficacy of combination therapy with granisetron plus prednisolone plus the dopamine D2 antagonist metopimazine during multiple cycles of moderately emetogenic chemotherapy in patients refractory to previous antiemetic therapy

 Effective antiemetic treatment of patients who have previously experienced chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting is difficult. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiemetic efficacy of a single intravenous dose of granisetron plus a 3-day oral treatment with prednisolone 25 mg once a day plus metopimazine 30 mg four times a day in patients refractory to previous antiemetic treatment with granisetron or with prednisolone plus metopimazine. The study population was made up of 25 consecutive women with stage I or II breast cancer, who were treated with multiple cycles of adjuvant cyclophosphamide, fluorouracil plus methotrexate or cyclophosphamide, epirubicin plus fluorouracil given i.v. every 3 weeks. Patients received the three-drug combination of antiemetics during a total of 113 cycles of chemotherapy. No emetic episodes were reported in 88.9% cycles on day 1, in 94.7% cycles on days 2 through 5 and in 85.8% cycles on days 1 through 5 after chemotherapy. No nausea was reported in 43.4% cycles on day 1, in 49.6% cycles on days 2 through 5 and in 34.5% cycles on days 1 through 5. Nineteen patients (76.0%) completed the scheduled nine cycles of chemotherapy, 1 being withdrawn because of ≥5 emetic episodes and 5, because they were not satisfied with the antiemetic treatment. The treatment was well tolerated. In conclusion, granisetron plus prednisolone plus metopimazine is a highly effective antiemetic treatment in patients receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy refractory to antiemetic therapy with granisetron or prednisolone plus metopimazine. Published online: 25 February 2000     

Granisetron plus dexamethasone in moderately emetogenic chemotherapy: evaluation of activity during three consecutive courses of chemotherapy

In this study we evaluated the antiemetic activity of a combination of 3 mg granisetron in a short i.v. infusion followed by 12 mg dexamethasone i.v. in 64 patients with cancer receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy scheduled in a single day. No patient had previously undergone chemotherapy and three consecutive cycles were evaluated. Response to antiemetic treatment was graded as follows: complete response, no episodes of vomiting; major response, only one episode; minor response, two to four episodes; failure, more than four episodes. Nausea was graded as absent, mild, moderate or severe (patients bedridden). At the first cycle a complete protection from acute vomiting and nausea was achieved in 95% and 73% of patients respectively; the rate of complete response for delayed vomiting was 90%, while 45% of patients complained of delayed nausea. The antiemetic and antinausea efficacy remained substantially unchanged during the second and third cycles of chemotherapy. Constipation and headache were the most frequent adverse events. In conclusion this antiemetic regimen appears very effective in preventing nausea and vomiting in moderately emetogenic chemotherapy.     

FDG-PET/CT lymph node staging after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophageal–gastric junction

Objectives

The aim of the analysis was to assess the accuracy of various FDG-PET/CT parameters in staging lymph nodes after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods

In this prospective study, 74 patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophageal–gastric junction were examined by FDG-PET/CT in the course of their neoadjuvant chemotherapy given before surgical treatment. Data from the final FDG-PET/CT examinations were compared with the histology from the surgical specimens (gold standard). The accuracy was calculated for four FDG-PET/CT parameters: (1) hypermetabolic nodes, (2) large nodes, (3) large-and-medium large nodes, and (4) hypermetabolic or large nodes.

Results

In 74 patients, a total of 1540 lymph nodes were obtained by surgery, and these were grouped into 287 regions according to topographic origin. Five hundred and two nodes were imaged by FDG-PET/CT and were grouped into these same regions for comparison. In the analysis, (1) hypermetabolic nodes, (2) large nodes, (3) large-and-medium large nodes, and (4) hypermetabolic or large nodes identified metastases in particular regions with sensitivities of 11.6%, 2.9%, 21.7%, and 13.0%, respectively; specificity was 98.6%, 94.5%, 74.8%, and 93.6%, respectively. The best accuracy of 77.7% reached the parameter of hypermetabolic nodes. Accuracy decreased to 62.0% when also smaller nodes (medium-large) were taken for the parameter of metastases.

Conclusions

FDG-PET/CT proved low sensitivity and high specificity. Low sensitivity was based on low detection rate (32.6%) when compared nodes imaged by FDG-PET/CT to nodes found by surgery, and in inability to detect micrometastases. Sensitivity increased when also medium-large LNs were taken for positive, but specificity and accuracy decreased.

     

A Randomized,Single-Blind Study Evaluating the Effect of a Bone Pain Education Video on Reported Bone Pain in Patients with Breast Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy and Pegfilgrastim

Background: Mild-to-moderate bone pain is the most commonly reported adverse event associated with pegfilgrastim. Aims: To investigate the effect of bone pain education on pegfilgrastim-related bone pain in patients with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy and pegfilgrastim. Design: Randomized, single-blind study. Settings: Forty-eight community oncology clinics throughout the United States. Participants: Three hundred women ≥18 years of age with newly diagnosed stage I -III breast cancer, who were planning ≥4 cycles of neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy with pegfilgrastim support starting in cycle 1. Methods: Patients were randomized 1:1 to view a general education DVD on chemotherapy side effects (GE-DVD) or a DVD on bone pain following chemotherapy and pegfilgrastim (BP-DVD). Patients recorded severity of bone pain on a scale of 0-10, location of pain, and use of bone pain medications (i.e., analgesics, antihistamines, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) for 5 days, beginning on the day of pegfilgrastim administration, in each of the first four chemotherapy cycles. Results: Patient-reported maximum bone pain was similar in the two groups (GE-DVD vs BP-DVD: cycle 1, 3.2 vs. 3.5, p = .3479; across all cycles, 4.1 vs. 4.6, p = .2196). Other measures of bone pain were also similar between the groups. Bone pain was highest in cycle 1 but decreased and then remained stable in subsequent cycles. Bone pain medication use was similar in both groups and was highest in cycle 1. Conclusions: The bone pain-specific education evaluated here did not improve perceptions of bone pain reported in this patient population.