Detection and grading of soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities with (18)F-3'-fluoro-3'-deoxy-L-thymidine.
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.
Cobben
David C P
DC
Department of Surgical Oncology, Groningen University Hospital, Groningen, the Netherlands. D.C.P.Cobben@pet.azg.nl
Elsinga
Philip H
PH
Suurmeijer
Albert J H
AJ
Vaalburg
Wim
W
Maas
Bram
B
Jager
Piet L
PL
Hoekstra
Harald J
HJ
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
D015224:Dideoxynucleosides; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; C002854:alovudine