Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and the prognosis of pancreatic carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Pancreatic carcinoma is associated with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether glucose metabolism in pancreatic cancer has prognostic significance for patients suffering from this disease.


METHODS
The survival data of 52 patients with pancreatic carcinoma was correlated with the standardized uptake value (SUV) as a semiquantitative parameter of glucose metabolism, as determined with fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET). A multivariate analysis, including SUV and accepted factors of prognosis, such as stage at presentation and tumor marker Ca 19-9, was performed to determine the prognostic value of FDG PET.


RESULTS
The median survival in 26 patients with low SUV (< 6.1) was 9 months (95% confidence interval 6-12 months) vs. 5 months (95% confidence interval 4-6 months) in 26 patients with high SUV (> or = 6.1). Multivariate analysis revealed SUV and tumor marker Ca 19-9 as independent factors of prognosis in patients with pancreatic carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Glucose metabolism, as determined with FDG PET, provides additional prognostic information in patients with pancreatic carcinoma.
Zimny
M
M
Dept. of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, Aachen University of Technology, Germany.
Fass
J
J
Bares
R
R
Cremerius
U
U
Sabri
O
O
Buechin
P
P
Schumpelick
V
V
Buell
U
U
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015996:Survival Rate; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18