title: The role of [¹⁸F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in thymic epithelial tumors.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to systemically review the available literature regarding the diagnostic performance of positron emission tomography (PET) using 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) in patients with thymic epithelial tumors. We reviewed 13 studies that evaluated the diagnostic role of thymic epithelial tumors with [18F]FDG-PET. [18F]FDG-PET is a useful radiological modality for differentiating between thymomas and thymic carcinoma. However, [18F]FDG-PET may not be useful for differentiating low-risk thymoma and high-risk thymoma. One paper reported that [18F]FDG-PET has a predictive significance for treatment and prognosis in thymic epithelial tumors. Two papers reported that the degree of [18F]FDG uptake in thymic epithelial tumors is based on glucose metabolism. [18F]FDG-PET may have a further use for radiological differential diagnosis of thymomas and thymic carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Oncology, Shizuoka Cancer Center, 1007 Shimonagakubo Nagaizumi-cho, Sunto-gun, Shizuoka, 411-8777, Japan. kkaira1970@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Kyoichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaira
authors.forename: Noriaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sunaga
authors.forename: Tamotsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishizuka
authors.forename: Kimihiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18