Physiological uptake of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose in the neck and upper chest region: are there predictive characteristics?
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess (patient) characteristics that might influence the prevalence of physiological uptake of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in the neck and upper chest region (FDG NUC) in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging.


METHODS
Retrospective study of static FDG PET scans in patients with malignant lymphoma, head and neck, lung or thyroid malignancy. The investigated determinants were gender, age, body mass index (BMI), tumour type, referring centre (community or university hospital), first or later PET scan, and use of benzodiazepines.


RESULTS
Eighty (31%) of 260 scans showed FDG NUC. We found a strong inverse relation between age and FDG NUC (P<0.001). After adjusting for age, older head and neck tumour patients were more at risk for developing FDG NUC compared with other tumours (P=0.011). Gender, use of benzodiazepines, referring specialist, first or later PET scan or low BMI (<20 kg.m(-2)) did not influence the prevalence of FDG NUC.


CONCLUSIONS
Multivariate logistic regression showed a strong inverse association between age and FDG NUC. No association between low BMI and FNUC could be established. In our hospital no protective effect of benzodiazepines could be determined. These data suggest that a trial designed to evaluate the efficiency of interventions to diminish FDG NUC should focus on younger patients.
Sturkenboom
Marieke G G
MG
Department of Pharmacy, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. mgg.sturkenboom@vumc.nl
Franssen
Eric J F
EJ
Berkhof
Johannes
J
Hoekstra
Otto S
OS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009928:Organ Specificity; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013909:Thorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18