title: Prognostic significance of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET)-based parameters in neoadjuvant chemoradiation treatment of esophageal carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the research was to study the prognostic value of tumor 18F-FDG PET-based parameters in neoadjuvant chemoradiation for patients with squamous esophageal carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients received chemoradiation therapy followed by esophagectomy and two 18FDG-PET examinations at pre- and post-radiation therapy. PET-based metabolic-response parameters were calculated based on histopathologic response. Linear regression correlation and Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine prognostic value of all PET-based parameters with reference to overall survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sensitivity (88.2%) and specificity (86.5%) of a percentage decrease of SUVmax were better than other PET- based parameters for prediction of histopathologic response. Only percentage decrease of SUVmax and tumor length correlated with overall survival time (linear regression coefficient β: 0.704 and 0.684, P<0.05). The Cox proportional hazards model indicated higher hazard ratio (HR=0.897, P=0.002) with decrease of SUVmax compared with decrease of tumor size (HR=0.813, P=0.009).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decrease of SUVmax and tumor size are significant prognostic factors in chemoradiation of esophageal carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, School of Medicine, Yantai, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Bo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Er-Cheng
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yi-Peng
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Ming-Huan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jin-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18