[18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in hepatocellular carcinoma on positron emission tomography correlates with alpha-fetoprotein].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether (18)F-fluorodexyglucose (FDG) uptake in the primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) correlates with serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP).


METHODS
Forty-five patients with histologically confirmed HCC underwent whole-body (18)F-FDG PET examination. Standardized uptake value (SUV) and tumor-to-nontumor ratio of the SUV (SUVratio) were calculated, and the relationship between serum AFP and glucose metabolism in HCC was analyzed.


RESULTS
Of the 45 cases, the primary tumor and metastatic lymph nodes were clearly displayed on PET images in 43 cases and the well-differentiated tumors were shown negative in the other 2 cases. A linear correlation of the AFP with SUV (r=0.426, P<0.05) and SUVratio (r=0.532, P<0.001) was noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum AFP correlates significantly with both SUV and SUN ratio, indicating that AFP is involved in glucose metabolism and cell proliferation in HCC.
Shang
Jian-biao
JB
Department of Interventional Radiology, Nanfang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
Li
Yan-hao
YH
Liu
Fang-ying
FY
Zeng
Qing-le
QL
Wang
Jiang-yun
JY
He
Xiao-feng
XF
Chen
Yong
Y
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18