P49 Incidental pulmonary nodules; are we doing too many follow up scans? Service review and value of PET-CT imaging

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Myocardial inflammation may occur in the context of a multisystem disease such as sarcoidosis, adversely affecting prognosis. A definitive diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is essential to implementing life-saving treatment but this is complicated by the invasive nature of endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) and its low accuracy. Positron emission tomography (PET) assists in diagnosis, which relies on visual interpretation of myocardial F-18 FDG uptake. The value of quantitative analysis and its application to clinical practice remain uncertain. Purpose To investigate the power of quantitative F-18 FDG PET-CT imaging analysis for detecting CS in patients with suspected disease. Methods All patients underwent F-18 FDG PET-CT after a 24-hour low-carbohydrate diet and 15-hour fasting as part of their diagnostic work-up for suspected cardiac inflammation. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance acted as gatekeeper to PET-CT in 8 of every 10 scans. Myocardial F-18 FDG uptake was assessed qualitatively and quantitatively using both manually drawn regions of interest and automatic polar maps to measure global and segmental standardised F-18 FDG uptake values (SUV). The coefficient of variation (CoV) was calculated to determine uptake heterogeneity. To confirm diagnosis, follow-up data regarding disease progression, further testing and treatment were collected. To allow for sufficient follow-up time, the first 40 consecutive patients from a prospective registry (n= 214; Sep 2017-Jun 2020) were included. Results A comprehensive clinical picture was obtained successfully in 37 patients (median [IQR], 17 [13.5] months) and a final diagnosis of CS reached in 7 (disease prevalence, 19%). EMB was performed in 2 patients only while 3 underwent PPM/ICD implantation. Significant predictors of CS were fulfilment of Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare criteria (Wald, 6.44; p = 0.01) and left ventricular dysfunction (Wald 6.72; p = 0.01). Qualitative F-18 FDG PET-CT had a high negative (95%) but low positive (45%) predictive value for CS (sensitivity, 83%; specificity, 77%). F-18 FDG SUV CoV was the strongest imaging predictor (Wald, 6.77; p = 0.009) and was significantly higher in CS than non-CS (CoV median [quartiles], 0.26 [0.21, 0.36] and 0.12 [0.11, 0.14] respectively; p = 0.004). As per ROC curve analysis (AUC, 0.84), a CoV threshold of 0.20 was highly specific (93%) and sensitive (86%) for CS. Conclusion In a referring population with a low prevalence of cardiac sarcoidosis, F-18 FDG PET-CT imaging is sensitive for the detection of myocardial inflammation with active disease unlikely in patients with a negative scan. Quantitative evaluation of metabolic heterogeneity within the myocardium provides a strong, independent marker of active disease and should be considered alongside visual assessment.

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Positive outcome in a high-grade myxofibrosarcoma: a case report

Romanian Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology ◽

10.2478/rojost-2018-0007 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 27-30

Author(s):

Mihaela Olaru ◽

Cornelia Nitipir

Keyword(s):

Case Report ◽

Fibrous Histiocytoma ◽

Tumor Resection ◽

Pulmonary Nodules ◽

Positive Outcome ◽

Pet Ct ◽

Longus Muscle ◽

Long Term Follow Up

AbstractMyxofibrosarcoma or myxoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma is one of the most common sarcomas of the limb. It is usually treated multimodally. Most frequent sites of metastasis are the bone, lung and lymph nodes. The present paper is a case report of a 65-year-old male with myxofibrosarcoma of the fibularis longus muscle, for which he first underwent surgery - tumor resection with appropriate margins. The tumor was staged pT2b cN0 cM0. Postoperative PET-CT revealed metabolically inactive pulmonary nodules. Two months after surgery, he underwent adjuvant radiotherapy, a total dose of 60 Gy and 6 courses of chemotherapy (doxorubicin and ifosfamide). Pulmonary nodules have been stationary on all subsequent imagistic studies. He is free of recurrence on long-term follow-up.

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PET/CT imaging in lung cancer: indications and findings

Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia ◽

10.1590/s1806-37132015000004479 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 41 (3) ◽

pp. 264-274 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Bruno Hochhegger ◽

Giordano Rafael Tronco Alves ◽

Klaus Loureiro Irion ◽

Carlos Cezar Fritscher ◽

Leandro Genehr Fritscher ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Pulmonary Nodules ◽

Cancer Staging ◽

Ct Imaging ◽

Inappropriate Treatment ◽

Pet Ct ◽

Disease Staging ◽

Anatomical Information ◽

Work Up

The use of PET/CT imaging in the work-up and management of patients with lung cancer has greatly increased in recent decades. The ability to combine functional and anatomical information has equipped PET/CT to look into various aspects of lung cancer, allowing more precise disease staging and providing useful data during the characterization of indeterminate pulmonary nodules. In addition, the accuracy of PET/CT has been shown to be greater than is that of conventional modalities in some scenarios, making PET/CT a valuable noninvasive method for the investigation of lung cancer. However, the interpretation of PET/CT findings presents numerous pitfalls and potential confounders. Therefore, it is imperative for pulmonologists and radiologists to familiarize themselves with the most relevant indications for and limitations of PET/CT, seeking to protect their patients from unnecessary radiation exposure and inappropriate treatment. This review article aimed to summarize the basic principles, indications, cancer staging considerations, and future applications related to the use of PET/CT in lung cancer.

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Impact of solitary pulmonary nodule size on qualitative and quantitative assessment using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT: the SPUTNIK trial

European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging ◽

10.1007/s00259-020-05089-y ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. R. Weir-McCall ◽

◽

S. Harris ◽

K. A. Miles ◽

N. R. Qureshi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multicentre Trial ◽

Pulmonary Nodules ◽

Blood Pool ◽

Qualitative Assessment ◽

Solitary Pulmonary Nodules ◽

Nodule Size ◽

Diagnostic Threshold ◽

Pet Ct ◽

The Impact

Abstract Purpose To compare qualitative and semi-quantitative PET/CT criteria, and the impact of nodule size on the diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodules in a prospective multicentre trial. Methods Patients with an SPN on CT ≥ 8 and ≤ 30 mm were recruited to the SPUTNIK trial at 16 sites accredited by the UK PET Core Lab. Qualitative assessment used a five-point ordinal PET-grade compared to the mediastinal blood pool, and a combined PET/CT grade using the CT features. Semi-quantitative measures included SUVmax of the nodule, and as an uptake ratio to the mediastinal blood pool (SURBLOOD) or liver (SURLIVER). The endpoints were diagnosis of lung cancer via biopsy/histology or completion of 2-year follow-up. Impact of nodule size was analysed by comparison between nodule size tertiles. Results Three hundred fifty-five participants completed PET/CT and 2-year follow-up, with 59% (209/355) malignant nodules. The AUCs of the three techniques were SUVmax 0.87 (95% CI 0.83;0.91); SURBLOOD 0.87 (95% CI 0.83; 0.91, p = 0.30 versus SUVmax); and SURLIVER 0.87 (95% CI 0.83; 0.91, p = 0.09 vs. SUVmax). The AUCs for all techniques remained stable across size tertiles (p > 0.1 for difference), although the optimal diagnostic threshold varied by size. For nodules < 12 mm, an SUVmax of 1.75 or visual uptake equal to the mediastinum yielded the highest accuracy. For nodules > 16 mm, an SUVmax ≥ 3.6 or visual PET uptake greater than the mediastinum was the most accurate. Conclusion In this multicentre trial, SUVmax was the most accurate technique for the diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodules. Diagnostic thresholds should be altered according to nodule size. Trial registration ISRCTN - ISRCTN30784948. ClinicalTrials.gov - NCT02013063

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Incidence and Economic Impact of Incidental Findings on 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging

Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal ◽

10.1016/j.carj.2017.08.001 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 69 (1) ◽

pp. 63-70 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Scott J. Adams ◽

Rajan Rakheja ◽

Rhonda Bryce ◽

Paul S. Babyn

Keyword(s):

Incidental Findings ◽

Incidental Finding ◽

Ct Imaging ◽

Whole Body ◽

Ontario Health Insurance Plan ◽

Positron Emission ◽

Pet Ct ◽

Picture Archiving And Communication ◽

Fdg Pet Ct

Purpose The study sought to determine the incidence of incidental findings on whole-body positron emission tomography with computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging and the average costs of investigations to follow-up or further characterize incidental findings. Methods Imaging reports of 215 patients who underwent whole-body PET/CT imaging were retrospectively reviewed. Our provincial picture archiving and communication system was queried and patient charts were reviewed to identify all investigations performed to follow-up incidental findings within 1 year of the initial PET/CT study. Costs of follow-up imaging studies (professional and technical components) and other diagnostic tests and procedures were determined in Canadian dollars (CAD) and U.S. dollars (USD) using the 2015 Ontario Health Insurance Plan Schedule of Benefits and Fees and 2016 U.S. Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, respectively. Results At least 1 incidental finding was reported in 161 reports (74.9%). The mean number of incidental findings ranged from 0.64 in patients <45 years of age to 2.2 in patients 75 years of age and older. Seventy-five recommendations for additional investigations were made for 64 (30%) patients undergoing PET/CT imaging, and 14 of those were carried out specifically to follow-up incidental findings. Averaged across all 215 patients, the total cost of investigations recommended to follow-up incidental findings was CAD$105.51 (USD$127.56) per PET/CT study if all recommendations were acted on, and CAD$22.77 (USD$29.14) based on investigations actually performed. Conclusions As the incidence of incidental findings increases with age and a larger proportion of elderly patients is expected as population demographics change, it will be increasingly important to consider incidental findings on PET/CT imaging with standardized approaches to follow-up.

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