Comparison of FLT-PET and FDG-PET for visualization of head and neck squamous cell cancers.
OBJECTIVE
We compared 3'[F-18]fluoro-3'-deoxythymidine (FLT) positron emission tomography (PET) and 2-deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) for PET visualization of head and neck squamous cell cancers (HNSCCs) and evaluated which might better reflect proliferative activity as indicated by the Ki-67 index.


METHODS
A total of 43 patients with HNSCCs were examined with FLT-PET and FDG-PET. The PET images were evaluated qualitatively for regions of focally increased metabolism and for semiquantitative analysis the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) was calculated.


RESULTS
For depiction of primary tumours, the sensitivity of both approaches was 100%. The mean (± SD) SUV for FLT (5.65 ± 2.96) was significantly lower than that for FDG (10.9 ± 4.91; p < 0.0001). No significant differences were found for the T category. However, the mean (± SD) FLT SUV was significantly higher in poorly than in well-differentiated tumours (6.49 ± 3.13 vs. 4.2 ± 2.08; p < 0.04). Similarly, FDG SUVs in poorly and moderately differentiated tumours (12.72 ± 4.8 and 11.46 ± 4.64) were significantly higher than in well-differentiated tumours (7.45 ± 3.51; p < 0.004 and p < 0.02). No significant correlation was observed with the Ki-67 index for either.


CONCLUSIONS
FLT-PET showed as high a sensitivity as FDG-PET for the detection of primary HNSCC lesions, although uptake of FLT was significantly lower than that of FDG.
Hoshikawa
Hiroshi
H
Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan. hiro@med.kagawa-u.ac.jp
Nishiyama
Yoshihiro
Y
Kishino
Takehito
T
Yamamoto
Yuka
Y
Haba
Reiji
R
Mori
Nozomu
N
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography
J Nucl Med. 1995 Oct;36(10):1747-57
7562038
J Nucl Med. 2007 May;48(5):726-35
17475960
J Nucl Med. 2004 Feb;45(2):226-31
14960640
Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2004 May;31(5):720-4
14991243
J Laryngol Otol. 1999 Jun;113(6):548-54
10605586
Ann Nucl Med. 2001 Dec;15(6):471-86
11831394
J Nucl Med. 1997 Dec;38(12):1907-11
9430467
J Nucl Med. 2002 Sep;43(9):1210-7
12215561
J Nucl Med. 2001 May;42(5):721-5
11337566
Clin Cancer Res. 2007 Jun 15;13(12):3552-8
17575218
Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2007 Oct;34(10):1610-6
17530250
Nuklearmedizin. 2008;47(2):80-5; quiz N12
18392317
Clin Cancer Res. 2006 Aug 1;12(15):4590-7
16899606
Radiology. 2004 May;231(2):305-32
15044750
Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2009 Mar;36(3):382-8
18985344
Eur J Nucl Med. 1996 Oct;23(10):1409-15
8781149
Head Neck. 2001 Nov;23(11):942-6
11754497
Mol Imaging Biol. 2006 Jan-Feb;8(1):36-42
16362149
J Nucl Med. 2005 Mar;46(3):400-4
15750150
Cancer Res. 2003 Jul 1;63(13):3791-8
12839975
Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2006 Apr;33(4):412-9
16404598
Gut. 2003 Nov;52(11):1602-6
14570730
J Nucl Med. 1984 Jul;25(7):759-64
6610731
Mol Imaging Biol. 2003 Jul-Aug;5(4):257-70
14499141