title: [Evaluation of various hepatic lesions with positron emission tomography].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  [18F]FDG-PET is a functional imaging modality reflecting cellular glucose metabolism. In most malignant cells, accumulation and trapping of [18F]FDG allows the visualization of increased uptake compared with normal cells. The aim of this study was to assess the value of PET in differentiating benign from malignant hepatic lesions and to determine in which types of hepatic tumors PET can help evaluate stage, monitor response to therapy, and detect recurrence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty patients with liver lesions were enrolled (hepatocellular carcinoma 34, cholangiocarcinoma 8, metastatic liver cancer 25, hemangioma 6, liver abscess 7). Liver metastases were 22 adenocarcinoma, 2 lymphoma, 2 squamous cell carcinoma. The PET images of these patients were analyzed. SUV and lesion-to-normal liver background SUV ratio were obtained and compared among the disease groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All liver metastases and all cholangiocarcinomas had increased uptake value, with SUV ratios greater than 2. Hepatocellular carcinoma had SUV ratios greater than 2 in 20 of 34 patients (59%). All hemangiomas had poor uptake, a SUV ratio of less than 2. All liver abscesses showed definite uptake.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PET technique using FDG static imaging was useful in differentiating malignant from benign lesions of the liver in limited situations. Limitations included false negative results in some patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver abscesses raised problems in differential diagnosis from malignant liver tumors. The findings of this study suggest that the PET technique might be applied in tumor staging and the detection of recurrence, as well as monitoring responses to therapy for all adenocarcinomas and some hepatocellular carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Korea Cancer Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Bae
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Chul Ju
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Beung Il
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sook-Hyang
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: You Cheoul
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jhin Oh
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chang Yun
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sang Mu
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Im
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18