scholarly journals Incremental diagnostic value of [18F]tetrafluoroborate PET-CT compared to [131I]iodine scintigraphy in recurrent differentiated thyroid cancer

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (11) ◽  
pp. 2639-2646 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Dittmann ◽  
José Manuel Gonzalez Carvalho ◽  
Kambiz Rahbar ◽  
Michael Schäfers ◽  
Michael Claesener ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Efficient therapy of recurrent differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is dependent on precise molecular imaging techniques targeting the human sodium iodide symporter (hNIS), which is a marker both of thyroid and DTC cells. Various iodine isotopes have been utilized for detecting DTC; however, these come with unfavorable radiation exposure and image quality ([131I]iodine) or limited availability ([124I]iodine). In contrast, [18F]tetrafluoroborate (TFB) is a novel radiolabeled PET substrate of hNIS, results in PET images with high-quality and low radiation doses, and should therefore be suited for imaging of DTC. The aim of the present study was to compare the diagnostic performance of [18F]TFB-PET to the clinical reference standard [131I]iodine scintigraphy in patients with recurrent DTC. Methods Twenty-five patients with recurrent DTC were included in this retrospective analysis. All patients underwent [18F]TFB-PET combined with either CT or MRI due to newly discovered elevated TG levels, antiTG levels, sonographically suspicious cervical lymph nodes, or combinations of these findings. Correlative [131I]iodine whole-body scintigraphy (dxWBS) including SPECT-CT was present for all patients; correlative [18F]FDG-PET-CT was present for 21 patients. Histological verification of [18F]TFB positive findings was available in 4 patients. Results [18F]TFB-PET detected local recurrence or metastases of DTC in significantly more patients than conventional [131I]iodine dxWBS and SPECT-CT (13/25 = 52% vs. 3/25 = 12%, p = 0.002). The diagnosis of 6 patients with cervical lymph node metastases that showed mildly increased FDG metabolism but negative [131I]iodine scintigraphy was changed: [18F]TFB-PET revealed hNIS expression in the metastases, which were therefore reclassified as only partly de-differentiated (histological confirmation present in two patients). Highest sensitivity for detecting recurrent DTC had the combination of [18F]TFB-PET-CT/MRI with [18F]FDG-PET-CT (64%). Conclusion In the present cohort, [18F]TFB-PET shows higher sensitivity and accuracy than [131I]iodine WBS and SPECT-CT in detecting recurrent DTC. The combination of [18F]TFB-PET with [18F]FDG-PET-CT seems a reasonable strategy to characterize DTC tumor manifestations with respect to their differentiation and thereby also individually plan and monitor treatment. Future prospective studies evaluating the potential of [18F]TFB-PET in recurrent DTC are warranted.

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (10) ◽  
pp. 970-979 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sertac Asa ◽  
Sabire Yılmaz Aksoy ◽  
Betül Vatankulu ◽  
Anar Aliyev ◽  
Lebriz Uslu ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 52 (01) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Dietlein ◽  
D. Schmidt ◽  
T. Kuwert ◽  
R. Dorn ◽  
J. Sciuk ◽  
...  

SummaryThe clinical significance of 18F-FDG-PET/CT in the follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma was evaluated and the results were compared with those of 18F-FDGPET, 131I-whole-body scintigraphy including SPECT/CT (WBS) and ultrasound. In addition, it was the aim to investigate the impact of 18F-FDG-PET/CT on the therapeutic management. Patients, methods: 327 patients (209 women, 118 men; mean age 53 ± 18 years) with differentiated thyroid cancer (242 papillary, 75 follicular, 6 mixed, 1 Hürthle cell and 3 poorly differentiated tumours) were analyzed retrospectively at four tertiary referral centres. 289 18F-FDG-PET/CT and 118 18F-FDG-PET studies were performed in these patients between 2007 and 2010. In addition, an overall clinical evaluation was performed, including cytology, histology, thyroglobulin level, ultrasound, WBS, and subsequent clinical course in order to compare the molecular imaging results. Finally, the change in therapeutic management due to findings of 18F-FDG-PET/CT was investigated. Results: The sensitivity of 18F-FDG-PET/CT was 92%, the specificity was 95%. Sensitivity and specificity of 18F-FDG-PET alone were 67% and 93%, respectively. WBS showed a sensitivity of 65% and a specificity of 94%. The corresponding values of ultrasound were 37% and 94%, respectively. The sensitivity of 18F-FDG-PET/CT in the group of patients with a negative WBS (n=194) amounted to 96%. When 18F-FDG-PET/CT and WBS were considered in combination, tumour tissue was missed in only 2 out of 133 patients; when 18F-FDG-PET and WBS were combined, tumour tissue was missed in 1 out of 24 patients. 18F-FDG-PET/CT resulted in management change in 43% (n=57/133) with a decision on surgical approach in 20% (n=27/133). Conclusions: 18F-FDG-PET/CT is superior to 18F-FDG-PET alone in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer and has a direct impact on the therapeutic management of patients with suspected local recurrence or metastases, particularly in those with negative WBS.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Eleonora Farina ◽  
Fabio Monari ◽  
Paolo Castellucci ◽  
Fabrizio Romani ◽  
Andrea Repaci ◽  
...  

Introduction. To evaluate the clinical response rate after a postoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT guided external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in Iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer. Material and Methods. Patients with thyroid cancer locally recurrent after total thyroidectomy plus metabolic radiotherapy and treated with radical EBRT were included. Inclusion criteria were detectable thyroglobulin (Tg), negative postmetabolic radiotherapy whole body scintigraphy, and no surgical indications. The pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT resulted positive in all cases (loggia, lymph nodes, and lung). EBRT was delivered with IMRT-SIB technique. A 18F-FDG PET/CT revaluation and Tg dosage were performed 3 months after the treatment. Results. Sixteen consecutive patients were included in this analysis (median follow-up: 6–44 months). Post-EBRT 18F-FDG PET/CT showed CR in 43.7%, PR in 31.2%, SD in 25.0% patients, and PD due to lung metastases in 12.5%. Overall response rate was 75.0% (CI 95%: 41.4–93.3%). Tg levels decreased in 75.0% with a median Δ of 68.0%. Two-year PFS and OS rates were 80.0% and 93.0%, respectively. Acute G3 toxicity occurred in 18.7% and late G2 toxicity in 12.5%. Conclusions.  18F-FDG PET/CT was useful in target definition for radiotherapy planning, identifying positive areas not detected with 131I scintigraphy. IMRT based EBRT was feasible and our results encourage future prospective studies. This clinical trial is registered with ID: NCT03191643.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhongyun Xu ◽  
Chao Li ◽  
Feng Fang ◽  
Linlin Zhang ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: We usually use 131 I whole body scan and serum thyroglobulin (Tg) values to determine whether differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients need to receive 131 I treatment, but not all 131 I-avid (functioning) patients have good responses, which is more likely to cause the 131 I-avid patient to receive overtreatment. Our study aims to assess the date of 18 F-FDG PET/CT to avoid 131 I overtreatment and research the status of 131 I-avid pulmonary metastases (PMs) and the prognosis of the patients. Methods: The 131 I-avid PMs of DTC patients who underwent 18 F-FDG PET/CT scans were included. The SUVmax (maximum standardized uptake value), MTV (metabolic tumour volume) and TLG (total lesion glycolysis) were used to estimate 18 F-FDG uptake. The mean follow-up period was 34.14 ± 18.64months. Progression-free survival (PFS) was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method.The study was based on per-patient and per-lesion analyses. Results: Among the 42 included patients, 34 (34/42, 81%) showed 18 F-FDG uptake, which was defined as abnormal foci (SUVmax >1.0) in the lungs. SUVmax, MTV and TLG and tumour size were the factors that influenced the outcome of 131 I treatment based on Tg levels (p=0.000,0.016,0.000,0.000). The only independent factor was the size of the lesion. There was a significant difference in response to 131 I therapy between PMs with F-I+ and F+/I+ according to both Tg levels and RECIST (version 1.1) (p= 0.044,0.001), according to the per-lesion analysis. When the changes in size or metabolism of some lesions are inconsistent with therapeutic efficacy of patients, it indicates that these patients have a poor prognosis (P=0.003). Conclusions: We concluded that higher 18 F-FDG uptake and larger tumour size predict poor therapeutic effects and a high risk of disease progression in 131 I-avid PMs of DTC. For evaluating the efficiency of 131 I treatment, per-lesion analyses and assessing the data of 18 F-FDG PET/CT would be more reliable than per-patient evaluation only. The increasing 18 F-FDG uptake or diameter of PMs may lead to a poor prognosis for the patient, and early focal treatment modalities may improve their life span.


2016 ◽  
Vol 175 (5) ◽  
pp. 379-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Kukulska ◽  
J Krajewska ◽  
Z Kołosza ◽  
E Paliczka-Cies´lik ◽  
Z Puch ◽  
...  

IntroductionAvailable methods, including serum thyroglobulin (Tg) measurement and whole-body scan (WBS) performed after radioiodine administration, allow for a precise diagnostics in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). However, some asymptomatic patients demonstrate negative WBS despite a high Tg serum concentration. In these subjects, fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) should be considered. The primary aim of our study was to evaluate a diagnostic value of FDG-PET in asymptomatic hyperthyroglobulinemia. The secondary one was to determine a prognostic value of a negative FDG-PET result in DTC patients with elevated Tg level.MaterialOne hundred and ten FDG-PET/CT scans were retrospectively analyzed, 85 scans were done under TSH stimulation and 25 on LT4suppressive therapy. Follow-up ranged between 4 and 9 years.ResultsThe first FDG-PET/CT detected cancer foci in 49 subjects with a global sensitivity of 45%. When the sensitivity was evaluated with reference to TSH stimulation and suppression, its values were 50 and 28% respectively. In 42 patients, FDG-PET failed to diagnose the reason for elevated Tg level. During further follow-up, in 17 of them, DTC recurrence was detected by other methods (CT, MRI, US). Fourteen subjects with asymptomatic hyperthyroglobulinemia were free of DTC progression for at least 4 years.ConclusionsFDG-PET in DTC patients with asymptomatic hyperthyroglobulinemia constitutes a valuable diagnostic tool. Negative FDG-PET demonstrated a limited prognostic significance, as only every third patient did not show DTC progression. Moreover, negative FDG-PET does not justify less strict DTC monitoring, because it is related to 40% risk of relapse during the 5-year follow-up.


Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1430
Author(s):  
Elisa Lodi Rizzini ◽  
Andrea Repaci ◽  
Elena Tabacchi ◽  
Lucia Zanoni ◽  
Valentina Vicennati ◽  
...  

Background: As reported in the literature, [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ([18F]-FDG PET/CT) provides useful qualitative and semi-quantitative data for the prognosis of advanced differentiated thyroid cancer. Instead, there is a lack of data about the real clinical impact of 18F-FDG PET/CT on the choice of the more effective therapeutic approach for advanced differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) that starts to lose iodine avidity. The primary aim of this retrospective study was to assess how 18F-FDG PET/CT can guide the choice of the best therapeutic approach to RAI-refractory DTC (RAI-R-DTC) in patients with a doubtful iodine uptake/negative 18F-FDG PET/CT I whole-body scan after several radioactive iodine therapies (RAIT). The secondary aim was to assess the prognostic role of clinical and semi-quantitative metabolic 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters in comparison to published data. Materials and methods: A monocentric retrospective observational study was performed, reviewing the medical records of 53 patients recruited from a database of 208 patients treated at our Institution between 2011 and 2019, with advanced DTC that underwent FDG PET/CT scan for a suspected RAI-R-DTC. Selected patients had to perform a 18F-FDG PET/CT scan after the second RAIT based on a doubtful iodine uptake/negative 131 I whole-body scan and/or persistent elevated thyroglobulin levels. Metabolic response was defined according to positron emission tomography response criteria in solid tumors (PERCIST) guidelines. Standardized uptake value (SUV)max, SUVmean, metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were calculated. The association between metabolic features, clinical parameters and progression free survival (PFS) was assessed applying Kruskal–Wallis, chi-square-Pearson correlation tests, and Cox regression analyses when appropriate. Results: Among our sample of 53 patients (mean age 52.0 ± 19.9 years; 31 women and 22 men), 27 (51.0%) presented a positive 18F-FDG PET/CT scan: 16 (59.0%) underwent watchful waiting, 4 (15.0%) received external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT), 4 (15.0%) underwent surgery, 2 (7.4%) received another course of RAI therapy, and 1 underwent surgery + EBRT. PERCIST response was evaluated in 14/27 patients. Median follow-up was 5.8 ± 3.9 years and median PFS was 38.0 ± 21.8 months. At the last follow-up assessment, 14/53 (26.4%) demonstrated disease progression, 13/53 (24.5) persistence of structural disease, 25/53 (47%) persistence of biochemical disease, and 15/53 (28%) had an excellent response. A significant association was found between therapeutic approach, metabolic response, and final disease response evaluation, as well as a linear correlation between MTV and TLG with thyroglobulin level. Conclusions: Our Institutional experience confirmed the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT as a useful guide in the clinical management of RAI-R-DTC and obviated further unnecessary RAIT.


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