title: The Usefulness of Positron-Emission Tomography Findings in the Management of Anterior Mediastinal Tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We performed a retrospective analysis to evaluate the usefulness of positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) findings in the classification and management of anterior mediastinal tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2006 and 2015, 105 patients with anterior mediastinal tumor received PET/CT.18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG)-PET images were obtained 60 minutes after the injection of18F-FDG.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The histological classifications were as follows: thymoma (n = 49), thymic carcinoma (TC) (n = 19), malignant lymphoma (ML) (n = 8), teratoma (n = 7), thymic cyst (n = 14), and others (n = 8). Upon visual inspection (SUV max: >2.0), all of the malignant tumors showed18F-FDG accumulation (with the exception of one type A thymoma). Two of the 14 thymic cysts and three of the seven teratomas showed slight18F-FDG accumulation. The SUV max values of the low-grade thymomas, high-grade thymomas, TCs and MLs were 3.14 ± 0.73, 4.34 ± 1.49, 8.59 ± 3.05, and 10.08 ± 2.53, respectively, with significant differences between the low- and high-grade thymomas, and between TCs and MLs. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of18F-FDG in the detection of low-grade thymomas and thymomas with a maximum diameter of ≤50 mm and an SUV max of ≤3.4 were 85%, 48%, and 60%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FDG-PET/CT is an objective and useful modality in the differential diagnosis and management of anterior mediastinal tumors.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Disease Center, Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kitami
authors.forename: Fumitoshi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.forename: Kosuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Shugo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uematsu
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Mitsutaka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kadokura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019540:Area Under Curve; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072078:Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18