title: Use of 18F-FDG PET Scan and Ultrasound-guided Biopsy in the Diagnosis of Hepatic Carcinomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  PET is a highly specific tool in liver cancer diagnosis. However, in small hepatic lesions, typical imaging characteristics are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of PET-CT and ultrasound-guided biopsy for diagnosis of liver carcinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical data of 58 patients who were diagnosed and treated in our hospital from January 2008 to December 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Before surgery, patients received PET-CT assessment, ultrasound examination, and ultrasound-guided biopsy of liver tissues. Forty three patients with cancer underwent partial hepatectomy. Clinical data were collected from hospital records and follow-up questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postoperative histology revealed hepatocellular carcinoma in 26 patients (46.4%), liver metastases in 12 patients (21.4%). Only 4 patients (7.1%) had cholangiocarcinoma. The sensitivity of PET-CT, ultrasound, and ultrasound-guided biopsy for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was 92.9%, 95.5%, and 100%, respectively. The surgery-related complication rate was 3.6%. Prognosis was good, with 1- and 3-year survival rates of 83.4% and 67.9%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PET-CT is highly specific for diagnosis of hepatic cancer, which is consistent with the diagnosis of ultrasound-guided biopsy and postoperative histological assessments. Combination use of PET-CT, ultrasound assessment and ultrasound-guided biopsy will provide the most accurate diagnosis of liver cancer.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Lijuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Yingci
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jing
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D061705:Image-Guided Biopsy; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D047368:Tumor Burden; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18