Limited value of 18F-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography to detect hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis B virus carriers.
OBJECTIVE
The differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma from benign liver diseases in hepatitis B virus carriers by imaging studies based upon morphological aspects can be difficult.


METHODS
FDG-PET (18F-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomographies) were performed in 48 hepatitis B virus carriers to detect hepatocellular carcinoma and differentiate other benign liver diseases. In each patient, the focal liver lesion was visible by ultrasound and an elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein level was noted. Definite diagnosis was established after ultrasound-guided liver biopsy followed by histopathological examination.


RESULTS
The histopathological examination revealed hepatocellular carcinoma in 36 patients and benign liver diseases in the remaining 12 patients. Twenty of 36 hepatocellular carcinomas were detectable by FDG-PET and none of 12 benign liver diseases were visualized by FDG-PET. The detection sensitivity of FDG-PET was not related to the echogenicity and size of hepatocellular carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
FDG-PET is not sensitive to but is more specific than ultrasound and serum alpha-feto-protein level to detect hepatocellular carcinoma and differentiate from other benign liver diseases in hepatitis B virus carriers.
Jeng
Long-Bin
LB
Department of Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, No. 2, Yuh-Der Road, Taichung 404, Taiwan.
Changlai
Sheng-Pin
SP
Shen
Yeh-You
YY
Lin
Cheng-Chieh
CC
Tsai
Chang-Hai
CH
Kao
Chia-Hung
CH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D020518:Focal Nodular Hyperplasia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18