title: Preliminary study on the evaluation of Langerhans cell histiocytosis using F-18-fluoro-deoxy-glucose PET/CT.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Limited number of studies have been reported regarding the utilization of F-18-fluoro-deoxy-glucose (F-18-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-18-FDG PET/CT) in Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). The aim of this study was to assess the role of F-18-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis and treatment of LCH.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight newly diagnosed and seven recurrent patients with LCH received F-18-FDG PET/CT scans. The diagnosis of LCH was established by pathology, multi-modality imaging, and clinical follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  F-18-FDG PET/CT was positive in 14 patients with 13 true positives and one false positive. All 45 LCH lesions were F-18-FDG avid including six small bone lesions <1.0 cm in diameter. The mean maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was 7.13 ± 4.91. F-18-FDG uptake showed no significant difference between newly diagnosed lesions vs recurrent lesions (SUVmax: 6.50 ± 2.97 vs. 7.93 ± 6.60, t = -0.901, P = 0.376). Among 45 LCH lesions, 68.9% (31/45) were found in bones and 31.1% (14/45) in soft tissue. The most commonly involved bones were the pelvis and vertebrae. There was no significant difference in F-18-FDG uptake between bone lesions vs. non-bone lesions (SUVmax: 6.30 ± 2.87 vs. 8.97 ± 7.58, t = 1.277, P = 0.221). In two patients, changes in F-18-FDG uptake on serial PET/CT scans reflected response of lesions to treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study suggests that F-18-FDG PET/CT may be useful for diagnosis and assessing the treatment response of LCH. Because of the small sample size, further research is warranted to confirm our findings.
authors.affiliation: Nanfang PET Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China.
authors.forename: Wenlan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Nanfang PET Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China.
authors.forename: Hubing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Nanfang PET Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China.
authors.forename: Yanjiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan 650032, China.
authors.forename: Shaobo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Nanfang PET Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China.
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Nanfang PET Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China. Email: wqslph@163.net.
authors.forename: Quanshi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18