title: Detection and grading of soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities with (18)F-3'-fluoro-3'-deoxy-L-thymidine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility of (18)F-3'-fluoro-3'-deoxy-L-thymidine positron emission tomography (FLT-PET) for the detection and grading of soft tissue sarcoma (STS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen patients with 20 STSs of the extremities were scanned, using attenuation corrected whole-body FLT-PET. Standardized uptake values (SUVs) and tumor:nontumor ratios (TNTs) were compared with histopathological parameters using French and Japanese grading systems.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean SUV, maximal SUV, and TNT could differentiate between low-grade (grade 1; n = 6) STS and high-grade (grade 2 and 3; n = 14) STS according to the French grading system (P = 0.001). Mean SUV, max SUV, and TNT correlated with mitotic score, MIB-1 score, the French and Japanese grading system (* = 0.550-0.747).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FLT-PET is able to visualize STS and differentiate between low-grade and high-grade STS. The uptake of FLT correlates with the proliferation of STS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Groningen University Hospital, Groningen, the Netherlands. D.C.P.Cobben@pet.azg.nl
authors.forename: David C P
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Cobben
authors.forename: Philip H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Elsinga
authors.forename: Albert J H
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Suurmeijer
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vaalburg
authors.forename: Bram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maas
authors.forename: Piet L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Jager
authors.forename: Harald J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hoekstra
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015224:Dideoxynucleosides / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D015224:Dideoxynucleosides; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; C002854:alovudine