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Analysis of pretreatment FDG-PET SUV parameters in head-and-neck cancer: tumor SUVmean has superior prognostic value.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Higgins, KA; Hoang, JK; Roach, MC; Chino, J; Yoo, DS; Turkington, TG; Brizel, DM
Published in: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys
February 1, 2012

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prognostic significance of different descriptive parameters in head-and-neck cancer patients undergoing pretreatment [F-18] fluoro-D-glucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) imaging. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Head-and-neck cancer patients who underwent FDG-PET before a course of curative intent radiotherapy were retrospectively analyzed. FDG-PET imaging parameters included maximum (SUV(max)), and mean (SUV(mean)) standard uptake values, and total lesion glycolysis (TLG). Tumors and lymph nodes were defined on co-registered axial computed tomography (CT) slices. SUV(max) and SUV(mean) were measured within these anatomic regions. The relationships between pretreatment SUV(max), SUV(mean), and TLG for the primary site and lymph nodes were assessed using a univariate analysis for disease-free survival (DFS), locoregional control (LRC), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS). Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated and compared via the log-rank method. SUV data were analyzed as continuous variables. RESULTS: A total of 88 patients was assessed. Two-year OS, LRC, DMFS, and DFS for the entire cohort were 85%, 78%, 81%, and 70%, respectively. Median SUV(max) for the primary tumor and lymph nodes was 15.4 and 12.2, respectively. Median SUV(mean) for the primary tumor and lymph nodes was 7 and 5.2, respectively. Median TLG was 770. Increasing pretreatment SUV(mean) of the primary tumor was associated with decreased disease-free survival (p = 0.01). Neither SUV(max) in the primary tumor or lymph nodes nor TLG was prognostic for any of the clinical endpoints. Patients with pretreatment tumor SUV(mean) that exceeded the median value (7) of the cohort demonstrated inferior 2-year DFS relative to patients with SUV(mean) ≤ the median value of the cohort, 58% vs. 82%, respectively, p = 0.03. CONCLUSION: Increasing SUV(mean) in the primary tumor was associated with inferior DFS. Although not routinely reported, pretreatment SUV(mean) may be a useful prognostic FDG-PET parameter and should be further evaluated prospectively.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys

DOI

EISSN

1879-355X

Publication Date

February 1, 2012

Volume

82

Issue

2

Start / End Page

548 / 553

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Prognosis
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Lymph Nodes
  • Humans
 

Citation

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Higgins, K. A., Hoang, J. K., Roach, M. C., Chino, J., Yoo, D. S., Turkington, T. G., & Brizel, D. M. (2012). Analysis of pretreatment FDG-PET SUV parameters in head-and-neck cancer: tumor SUVmean has superior prognostic value. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, 82(2), 548–553. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2010.11.050
Higgins, Kristin A., Jenny K. Hoang, Michael C. Roach, Junzo Chino, David S. Yoo, Timothy G. Turkington, and David M. Brizel. “Analysis of pretreatment FDG-PET SUV parameters in head-and-neck cancer: tumor SUVmean has superior prognostic value.Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 82, no. 2 (February 1, 2012): 548–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2010.11.050.
Higgins KA, Hoang JK, Roach MC, Chino J, Yoo DS, Turkington TG, et al. Analysis of pretreatment FDG-PET SUV parameters in head-and-neck cancer: tumor SUVmean has superior prognostic value. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2012 Feb 1;82(2):548–53.
Higgins, Kristin A., et al. “Analysis of pretreatment FDG-PET SUV parameters in head-and-neck cancer: tumor SUVmean has superior prognostic value.Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, vol. 82, no. 2, Feb. 2012, pp. 548–53. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2010.11.050.
Higgins KA, Hoang JK, Roach MC, Chino J, Yoo DS, Turkington TG, Brizel DM. Analysis of pretreatment FDG-PET SUV parameters in head-and-neck cancer: tumor SUVmean has superior prognostic value. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2012 Feb 1;82(2):548–553.
Journal cover image

Published In

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys

DOI

EISSN

1879-355X

Publication Date

February 1, 2012

Volume

82

Issue

2

Start / End Page

548 / 553

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Prognosis
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Lymph Nodes
  • Humans