title: The role of (18)F-FDG-PET imaging for the selection of liver transplantation candidates among hepatocellular carcinoma patients.
abstract: Positron emission tomography (PET) using F-18 fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose ((18)F-FDG) is now well established as a noninvasive diagnostic tool for the detection of a variety of malignant tumors. However, in the case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), several investigators have reported controversial conclusions and an inadequate sensitivity for PET (50-55%). Nevertheless, a high positive rate of (18)F-FDG accumulation has been reported in patients with high-grade HCC and in those with markedly elevated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels. Here, we retrospectively reviewed 38 HCC cases that received liver transplantation (LT) at our center between November 2000 and July 2004 and underwent whole-body PET imaging. (18)F-FDG uptake was assessed in the liver, and its prognostic significance was investigated. Of 38 patients enrolled, 13 patients had positive PET scans for a liver tumor. When we analyzed the association between tumor factors and PET+ (greater PET lesion uptake) in the liver, preoperative AFP level and vascular invasion were found to be significantly associated with PET+ (P = 0.003 and P < 0.001, respectively). However, the association between histological grade and PET+ findings did not reach statistical significant difference (P = 0.074). Moreover, the 2-year recurrence-free survival rate of PET- patients was significantly higher than that of PET+ patients (85.1% vs. 46.1%) (P = 0.0005). Of 6 PET+ patients who met the Milan criteria, 4 patients (66.7%) had recurrence, but all 20 PET- patients who met the Milan criteria were recurrence free. Thus, PET imaging could be a good preoperative tool for estimating the post-LT risk of tumor recurrence, because histological grade and vascular invasion cannot be determined preoperatively. Importantly, our results indicate that tumor recurrence can be highly anticipated for PET-imaging-positive HCC patients who satisfy the Milan criteria. We advise that PET+ HCC patients be selected cautiously for LT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Kyung-Suk
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Hae Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eung-Ho
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jai Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Yong Beom
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Nam-Joon
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Kuhn Uk
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D018579:Patient Selection; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011379:Prognosis; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18