Positron emission tomography in patients with breast cancer using (18)F-3'-deoxy-3'-fluoro-l-thymidine ((18)F-FLT)-a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
This pilot study investigated the feasibility of (18)F-3'-deoxy-3'-fluoro-l-thymidine ((18)F-FLT) as a positron emission tomography (PET) tracer for the visualisation of breast cancer.


METHODS
Patients with breast cancer underwent (18)F-FLT-PET prior to surgery. The uptake of (18)F-FLT was determined in the primary tumour and in the axilla.


RESULTS
Eight tumours were visualized by (18)F-FLT-PET with a mean uptake value (SUV(mean)) of 1.7 and mean tumour-non-tumour ratio (TNT) of 5.0. In seven patients, axillary lymph-node metastases were found at pathological examinations, however, (18)F-FLT-PET showed uptake in only two large (and clinically evident) lymph-node metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
(18)F-FLT shows uptake in most primary breast tumours and in large axillary lymph-node metastases.
Been
L B
LB
PET Center, University Medical Center, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.
Elsinga
P H
PH
de Vries
J
J
Cobben
D C P
DC
Jager
P L
PL
Hoekstra
H J
HJ
Suurmeijer
A J H
AJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D015224:Dideoxynucleosides; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
D015224:Dideoxynucleosides; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; C002854:alovudine