title: Preliminary study of positron emission tomography/computed tomography and plasma osteopontin levels in patients with asbestos-related pleural disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the results of semiquantitative analysis by(18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with plasma osteopontin levels in the same asbestos-related pleural disease population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 17 patients with asbestos-related pleural disease were prospectively recruited. They underwent PET/CT, and plasma osteopontin levels were measured. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was determined from the most active pleural lesion in each patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) was histologically proven in 6 patients, and 11 patients had proven benign asbestos-related pleural diseases (7 pleural plaques, 4 asbestos pleurisy). Significant differences in SUVmax were found between patients with MPM and those with asbestos pleurisy (P = 0.031) and between patients with MPM and those with pleural plaques (P = 0.012). A significant difference was found in the plasma osteopontin levels between patients with asbestos pleurisy and patients with pleural plaques (Bonferroni correction, P = 0.024). The SUVmax in patients with benign asbestos-related diseases was statistically positively correlated with plasma osteopontin in the same group (Spearman's r = 0.75, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PET/CT might be more helpful than plasma osteopontin for distinguishing benign asbestos-related pleural diseases from MPM, and the SUVmax in benign asbestos-related pleural diseases may reflect changes in pleural inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Department of Radiology, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, 830-0011, Japan. skur@med.kurume-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurata
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishibashi
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Azuma
authors.forename: Hayato
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaida
authors.forename: Shinzo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takamori
authors.forename: Kiminori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: Maiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Yasumitsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirose
authors.forename: Hisamichi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aizawa
authors.forename: Naofumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hayabuchi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001194:Asbestos / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000097:blood*; D010994:Pleura / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010998:Pleurisy / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D053495:Osteopontin; D001194:Asbestos