[18FDG] PET-CT-based intensity-modulated radiotherapy treatment planning of head and neck cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To define the best threshold for tumor volume delineation of the (18) fluoro-2-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography ((18)FDG-PET) signal for radiotherapy treatment planning of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in head and neck cancer.


METHODS
In 25 patients with head-and-neck cancer, CT-based gross tumor volume (GTV(CT)) was delineated. After PET-CT image fusion, window level (L) was adapted to best fit the GTV(CT), and GTV(PET) was delineated. Tumor maximum (S) and background uptake (B) were measured, and the threshold of the background-subtracted tumor maximum uptake (THR) was used for PET signal segmentation. Gross tumor volumes were expanded to planning target volumes (PTVs) and analyzed.


RESULTS
The mean value of S was 40 kBq/mL, S/B ratio was 16, and THR was 26%. The THR correlated with S (r = -0.752), but no correlation between THR and the S/B ratio was seen (r = -0.382). In 77% of cases, S was >30 kBq/mL, and in 23% it was </=30 kBq/mL, with a mean THR of 21.4% and 41.6%, respectively (p < 0.001). Using PTV(PET) in radiotherapy treatment planning resulted in a reduced PTV in 72% of cases, while covering 88.2% of GTV(CT), comparable to the percentage of GTV(PET) covered by PTV(CT) (p = 0.15).


CONCLUSIONS
A case-specific PET signal threshold is optimal in PET-based radiotherapy treatment planning. Signal gating using a THR of 20% in tumors with S >30% +/- 1.6% kBq/mL and 40% in tumors with S </=30% +/- 1.6% kBq/mL is suitable.
El-Bassiouni
Mazen
M
Department of Radiation Oncology, Zurich University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich.
Ciernik
I Frank
IF
Davis
J Bernard
JB
El-Attar
Inas
I
Reiner
Beatrice
B
Burger
Cyrill
C
Goerres
Gerhard W
GW
Studer
Gabriela M
GM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D047368:Tumor Burden
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18