title: Comparison of CT, MRI and FDG-PET in response prediction of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer after multimodal preoperative therapy: is there a benefit in using functional imaging?
abstract: The aim of this study was to compare CT, MRI and FDG-PET in the prediction of outcome of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy in patients with locally advanced primary rectal cancer. A total of 23 patients with T3/4 rectal cancer underwent a preoperative radiochemotherapy combined with regional hyperthermia. Staging was performed using four-slice CT (n=23), 1.5-T MRI (n=10), and (18)F-FDG-PET (n=23) before and 2-4 weeks after completion of neoadjuvant treatment. Response criteria were a change in T category and tumour volume for CT and MRI and a change in glucose uptake (standard uptake value) within the tumour for FDG-PET. Imaging results were compared with those of pretherapy endorectal ultrasound and histopathological findings. Histopathology showed a response to neoadjuvant therapy in 13 patients whereas 10 patients were classified as nonresponders. The mean SUV reduction in responders (60+/-14%) was significantly higher than in nonresponders (37+/-31%; P=0.030). The sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET in identifying response was 100% (CT 54%, MRI 71%) and 60% (CT 80%, MRT 67%). Positive and negative predictive values were 77% (CT 78%, MRI 83%) and 100% (CT 57%, MRI 50%) (PET P=0.002, CT P=0.197, MRI P=0.500). These results suggest that FDG-PET is superior to CT and MRI in predicting response to preoperative multimodal treatment of locally advanced primary rectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Strahlenheilkunde und PET-Zentrum Berlin Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, Berlin, 13353, Germany. timm.denecke@charite.de
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Denecke
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rau
authors.forename: K-T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hildebrandt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruf
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gutberlet
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hünerbein
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Felix
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wust
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amthauer
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D012007:Rectum / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18