title: The negative impact of fatty liver on maximum standard uptake value of liver on FDG PET.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study is to evaluate the impact of fatty liver on maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) of liver on 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 173 consecutive healthy subjects were retrospectively recruited for analysis. Subjects with acute renal disease, chronic renal disease, or malignancy were excluded. Demographic data were collected from chart records. All subjects performed whole-body FDG PET, sonography of liver, and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) level. The SUVmax of liver on FDG PET was calculated. The relationship between the severity of fatty liver and SUVmax of liver on FDG PET was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences in SUVmax of liver on FDG PET in four groups: no fatty liver, mild-degree, moderate-degree, and severe-degree fatty liver on sonography diagnosis (P=.041). After adjusting for possible covariates age, sex, body mass index, and GPT, there was a significantly negative correlation between the severity of fatty liver and SUVmax of liver on FDG PET (β=-.20, P<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the results of this study, the liver cannot be used as a comparator of extrahepatic foci of equivocal increased FDG activity in patients with fatty liver disease.
authors: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
authors: Chun-Yi
authors: CY
authors: Lin
authors: Wen-Yuan
authors: WY
authors: Lin
authors: Cheng-Chieh
authors: CC
authors: Lin
authors: Chuen-Ming
authors: CM
authors: Shih
authors: Long-Bin
authors: LB
authors: Jeng
authors: Chia-Hung
authors: CH
authors: Kao
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D000410:Alanine Transaminase