Diagnostic accuracy and impact on management of (18)F-FDG PET and PET/CT in colorectal liver metastasis: a meta-analysis and systematic review. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2015;42:152-163. [PMID: 25319712 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-014-2930-4]

Micro-Nano Convergence-Driven Radiotheranostic Revolution in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Radiotherapy, as an important means of treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), has shown unique therapeutic advantages, especially in patients who are unable to undergo surgery or transplantation. It mainly includes external radiotherapy, transarterial radioembolization and intratumoral radioactive particle implantation. However, under the influence of factors such as the hypoxic characteristics of the liver tumor microenvironment and the radioresistance of tumor cells, the effect of radiotherapy may be unstable and may cause side effects, affecting the quality of life of patients. In recent years, with the development of nanotechnology, drug delivery systems based on micro-nanomaterials have provided new solutions for improving the effect of radiotherapy for HCC. Despite this, the application of micro-nano drug delivery systems in the treatment of HCC still faces some challenges, mainly including the in vivo safety and in vivo metabolism of micro-nano materials. This article reviews the latest progress of micro-nano materials in the treatment of HCC, especially their application in radiosensitization and their clinical translation potential. This article systematically analyzes the role of micro-nanomaterials in external or internal radiotherapy sensitization and radioimmunotherapy and explores the advantages of micro-nanomaterials in improving the treatment effect of HCC.

To contrast or not to contrast? Evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of hepatobiliary contrast agents in liver FDG-PET/MR: a prospective study

PURPOSE

The role of hepatobiliary contrast-enhanced imaging in the evaluation of liver malignancies in FDG-PET/MR remains underexplored. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of stand-alone FDG-PET, non-contrast-enhanced (NCE) PET/MR, and contrast-enhanced (CE) PET/MR with and without hepatobiliary phase (HBP).

METHODS

This prospective, single-center diagnostic accuracy study enrolled 60 patients with histologically confirmed abdominal malignancies and malignant liver lesions. Each patient underwent whole-body FDG-PET/MR, including dedicated upper abdominal imaging with NCE, CE without HBP, and CE with HBP. Three blinded radiologists independently evaluated the images in consensus. The reference standard was histopathology or follow-up imaging. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and diagnostic accuracy were calculated. Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical comparisons.

RESULTS

A total of 134 malignant liver lesions (38 primary tumors, 96 metastases) were identified. CE FDG-PET/MR with HBP achieved the highest diagnostic accuracy (97%), sensitivity (97.8%), and specificity (95.2%). NCE FDG-PET/MR had an accuracy of 67%, sensitivity of 78%, and specificity of 44%, while stand-alone FDG-PET had the lowest accuracy (52%). The addition of HBP significantly improved specificity (75.6-95.2%, p = 0.013) and enabled detection of smaller lesions (median size 7 mm vs. 19 mm, p = 0.00017).

CONCLUSION

The inclusion of hepatobiliary contrast significantly enhances the diagnostic performance of FDG-PET/MR for liver malignancies, particularly in detecting small or poorly defined lesions. These findings support the integration of HBP into PET/MR workflows to optimize liver lesion detection and staging.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

Not applicable.

PET/CT-guided Tumor Ablation: Technical Insights and Clinical Applications

PET/CT-guided ablation is increasingly being used in interventional oncology, due to its unique ability for precise tumor targeting and real-time intraprocedural evaluation of treatment completeness. This modality is extremely useful for targeting hypermetabolic tumors that may not be conspicuous on anatomic imaging. Intraprocedural postablation PET/CT can detect residual unablated tumor and depict ablation margins, permitting repeat ablation within the same treatment session. Moreover, intraprocedural PET metrics are a predictive biomarker of local tumor progression. This review summarizes the indications, workflow, and outcomes of PET/CT-guided tumor ablations.

Analysis of the best time-point for 18F-FDG PET/CT delayed imaging in patients of small colorectal cancer liver metastasis with hypothyroidism based on diagnostic efficacy and image standardized uptake values

OBJECTIVE

This study analyzes the role of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in the diagnosis of small (< 10 mm) colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM) lesions in patients with hypothyroidism. In particular, the impact of the best time for delayed imaging on improving diagnostic efficacy.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 231 patients with small CRLM lesions with hypothyroidism who underwent dual time-point 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging. Based on the previous studies and clinical practice experience, 120-190 min was selected as the time range for delayed imaging, divided into eight teams in 10-min groups. The delayed images of the eight time periods were first analyzed and compared for diagnostic efficacy, and second analyzed and compared for standardized uptake value (SUV) and of PET/CT images to observe the trend of SUV values over time.

RESULTS

The results of diagnostic efficacy analysis indicated that the 180-min delay group had the highest diagnostic efficacy (sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy). Comparison of the SUV values with the delay time analysis showed that maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) increased with the delay time, and the normal liver tissue (SUVmean) decreased with the delay time, which resulted in the gradual increase in the ratio of the lesion to the normal liver tissue (TNR). By selecting the time-point with the highest TNR ratio and stable SUV value, and combining the results of diagnostic efficacy, this study successfully verified the best imaging time-point. After comprehensive consideration, 180 min was determined as the best imaging time-point, when the TNR reached the highest, the SUV value was stable, and the diagnostic efficacy was best.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, the impact of delayed imaging on the diagnostic efficacy and SUV value of PET/CT images in patients of small CRLM with hypothyroidism was shown intuitively, and the changing pattern of SUV at different time points was also observed. The best time-point for PET/CT delayed imaging was determined to be 180 min, which provides a new scanning program for the diagnosis in patients of small CRLM with hypothyroidism.

Personalised PET imaging in oncology: an umbrella review of meta-analyses to guide the appropriate radiopharmaceutical choice and indication

PURPOSE

For several years, oncological positron emission tomography (PET) has developed beyond 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]FDG). This umbrella review of meta-analyses aims to provide up-to-date, comprehensive, high-level evidence to support appropriate referral for a specific radiopharmaceutical PET/computed tomography (CT) or PET/magnetic resonance (MR) in the diagnosis and staging of solid cancers other than brain malignancies.

METHODS

We performed a systematic literature search on the PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE databases for meta-analyses assessing the accuracy of PET/CT and/or PET/MRI with [18F]FDG, somatostatin- receptor-targeting 68Ga-DOTA-peptides, 18F-labelled dihydroxyphenylalanine ([18F]DOPA), prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted radioligands, and fibroblast activation protein inhibitors (FAPI) in the diagnosis/disease characterisation and staging of solid cancers other than brain tumours.

RESULTS

The literature search yielded 449 scientific articles. After screening titles and abstracts and applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, we selected 173 meta-analyses to assess the strength of evidence. One article was selected from references. Sixty-four meta-analyses were finally considered. The current evidence corroborates the role of [18F]FDG as the main player in molecular imaging; PSMA tracers are useful in staging and re-staging prostate cancer; somatostatin-targeting peptides (e.g. [68Ga]Ga- DOTA-TOC and -TATE) or [18F]DOPA are valuable in neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). FAPI has emerged in gastric cancer assessment. According to search and selection criteria, no satisfactory meta-analysis was selected for the diagnosis/detection of oesophageal cancer, the diagnosis/detection and N staging of small cell lung cancer and hepatic cell carcinoma, the diagnosis/detection and M staging of melanoma and Merkel cell carcinoma, cervical, vulvar and penis cancers, the N and M staging of lung and gastroenteropancreatic NET, testicular cancer, and chondrosarcoma, and the M staging of differentiated thyroid, bladder and anal cancers.

CONCLUSION

The comprehensive high-level evidence synthesised in the present umbrella review serves as a guiding compass for clinicians and imagers, aiding them in navigating the increasingly intricate seascape of PET examinations.

Preoperative imaging of colorectal liver metastases: what the radiologist and the multidisciplinary team need to know

The management of patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) has transformed over the past 2 decades. Advances in surgical techniques, systemic therapies, and local treatments have resulted in a paradigm shift. Disease that would once have been considered terminal is now frequently treated aggressively with both a disease-free and overall survival benefit. In line with the expanding range of treatment options, there has been an increase in the volume and complexity of imaging required in the management of these patients to ensure optimal patient selection and outcome. The radiologist plays a pivotal role in interpreting these studies, conveying the relevant information and informing the discussion at multidisciplinary team meetings. The purpose of this review is to provide an update for radiologists on the current surgical management of patients with CRLM highlighting specific imaging information that is required by the multidisciplinary team when assessing resectability and/or the need for additional liver-directed therapies.

CEUS compared with CECT, MRI, and FDG-PET/CT for diagnosing CRC liver metastases: a diagnostic test accuracy systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To determine the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) compared with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and Fluorine-18-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) for diagnosing suspected liver metastases in patients with newly diagnosed colorectal cancer (CRC).

METHODS

The meta-analysis using the bivariate model included studies on patients with newly diagnosed CRC only and excluded patients with non-CRC liver metastases, known liver metastases, patients treated with chemotherapy and local treatments, e.g. hepatic resection or radiofrequency ablation. We used QUADAS-2 to assess the methodological quality of the studies.

RESULTS

We included 32 studies, 6 studies evaluated the accuracy of CEUS (n = 937 participants), 26 studies evaluated CECT (n = 2,582), 8 studies evaluated MRI (n = 564) and 6 studies evaluated FDG-PET/CT (n = 813). Sensitivity: FDG-PET/CT 94.4% [95% CI: 90.7-98.1%], MRI 92.9% [95% CI: 88.8-97.0%], CEUS 86.1% [95% CI: 78.0-94.3%] and CECT 84.6% [95% CI: 79.3-89.9%]. Specificity FDG-PET/CT 97.9% [95% CI: 95.9-99.9%], CEUS 96.1% [95% CI: 93.6-98.6%], MRI 94.4% [95% CI: 90.5-98.3%], and CECT 94.3% [95% CI: 91.8-96.8%].

CONCLUSION

FDG-PET/CT had significantly higher sensitivity and specificity than CECT, and significantly higher sensitivity than CEUS. MRI had a significantly higher sensitivity than CEUS, but a lower non-significant specificity. CECT had the lowest sensitivity and specificity.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION DETAILS

CRD42017055015 and CRD42017082996.

Impact of laparoscopic ultrasound during PIPAC directed treatment of unresectable peritoneal metastasis

Objectives

Laparoscopic ultrasound (LUS) combines both laparoscopy and ultrasound imaging of the peritoneum liver and retroperitoneum. LUS has not been described in treatments with pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC). We present our experience with LUS in patients undergoing PIPAC.

Methods

Retrospective study of LUS findings from the prospective PIPAC-OPC2 trial. Main outcome was changes in overall treatment strategy due to LUS findings.

Results

PIPAC-OPC2 included 143 patients of which 33 patients were treated with electrostatic precipitation PIPAC. Nine patients were excluded due to primary non-access. During PIPAC 1, LUS was performed in 112 of 134 (84 %) PIPAC procedures and changed overall treatment strategy in one patient due to detection of multiple liver metastases unseen by baseline CT. During PIPAC 2 and 3 LUS was performed in 59 of 104 (57 %) and 42 of 78 (54 %) PIPAC procedures, respectively. Throughout PIPAC 1-3, LUS also detected pathological lymph nodes in 16 patients, and focal liver lesions in another four patients of uncertain origin. No further examinations were performed in these patients, and the overall treatment strategy was not changed according to the PIPAC-OPC2 protocol. One patient had a splenic capsule rupture related to the LUS itself. This was managed conservatively.

Conclusions

LUS may be safely performed during PIPAC. However, LUS has limited clinical impact in patients scheduled for PIPAC, and cannot be recommended as a routine procedure when performing PIPAC.

Analyzing the value of delayed 18 F-FDG PET/CT images in diagnosing small colorectal cancer liver metastases in patients with hypothyroidism based on diagnostic accuracy and image standardized uptake value

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to investigate the value of delayed 18F fluorodeoxyglucose PET/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) images in patients with small colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLMs) with hypothyroidism.

METHOD

We performed a retrospective analysis of 66 small-CRLM patients with hypothyroidism and 66 small-CRLM patients with euthyroidism, all of whom underwent dual-time-point 18 F-FDG PET/CT imaging. First, the diagnostic accuracy of PET/CT early imaging and PET/CT delayed imaging on lesions was analyzed. Next, the correlation of metabolic parameters between PET/CT early imaging and PET/CT delayed imaging was analyzed according to the grouping of all lesions. Finally, PET/CT parameters were analyzed for correlation with thyroid hormones.

RESULTS

The diagnostic accuracy of delayed imaging in small-CRLM patients with hypothyroidism is not as good as that in small-CRLM patients with euthyroidism; PET/CT metabolic parameters are also unfavorable for the diagnosis of small-CRLM. For small-CRLM patients with hypothyroidism, the greater the thyroid-stimulating hormone level, the greater the uptake of 18 F-FDG in normal liver tissue, and the smaller the ratio of tumor lesion uptake to normal liver tissue uptake.

CONCLUSION

PET/CT-delayed imaging has better performance than early imaging in small-CRLM patients with euthyroidism. However, the more severe the hypothyroidism, the worse the diagnostic delayed imaging performance. The scan time can be extended appropriately to optimize the imaging efficacy.

Imaging Considerations before and after Liver-Directed Locoregional Treatments for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death. Liver metastases will develop in over one-third of patients with colorectal cancer and are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Even though surgical resection has been considered the mainstay of treatment, only approximately 20% of the patients are surgical candidates. Liver-directed locoregional therapies such as thermal ablation, Yttrium-90 transarterial radioembolization, and stereotactic body radiation therapy are pivotal in managing colorectal liver metastatic disease. Comprehensive pre- and post-intervention imaging, encompassing both anatomic and metabolic assessments, is invaluable for precise treatment planning, staging, treatment response assessment, and the prompt identification of local or distant tumor progression. This review outlines the value of imaging for colorectal liver metastatic disease and offers insights into imaging follow-up after locoregional liver-directed therapy.

Evaluating therapeutic efficacy of extended shelf-life 90 Y glass microspheres in transarterial radioembolization for colorectal cancer: a quantitative FDG PET/CT analysis

OBJECTIVES

There is a lack of sufficient evidence regarding the use of extended shelf-life (ExSL) Yttrium-90 ( 90 Y) glass radiomicrospheres in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of ExSL 90 Y glass radiomicrospheres with a personalized treatment approach by analyzing 18 F-FDG PET/CT quantitative parameters [metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG)] separately before and after the treatment.

METHODS

A total of 93 radioembolization sessions involving 77 patients were included. Simplicit 90 Y software was utilized to perform multicompartmental voxel-based dosimetry. Adverse events were recorded using the CTCAE v5.0 criteria. The survival data were recorded in detail.

RESULTS

The overall disease control rate was 84.9%, with a median overall survival (OS) of 12.7 months and median progression-free survival (PFS) of 8.3 months. A statistically significant increase in treatment response rate was observed when there was an increase in absorbed tumor dose for pre-treatment unit MTV ( P  = 0.005) and TLG ( P  = 0.004) values. We didn't observe any additional side effects/vital risks that could be considered clinically significant.

CONCLUSION

Our study has provided evidence on the therapeutic effectiveness and safety in terms of dose-toxicity profile of ExSL 90 Y glass microspheres in a large cohort of mCRC patients. With a personalized treatment approach, the increase in radiation dose absorbed by the tumor has shown a significant contribution to treatment response rate, as indicated by quantitative measurements obtained through 18 F-FDG PET/CT.

Detection of Liver Lesions in Colorectal Cancer Patients Using 18F-FDG PET/CT Dual-Time-Point Scan Imaging

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of dual-time-point fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission computed tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) compared to conventional early imaging for detecting colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.

METHODS

One hundred twenty-four consecutive CRC patients underwent dual-time-point imaging scans on a retrospective basis. Histopathological confirmation and/or clinical follow-up were accepted as the gold standard. Standard uptake values (SUV), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), retention index (RI), tumor-to-normal liver ratio (TNR), and lesion sizes were measured for early and delayed PET scans. The diagnostic performance of early and delayed images was calculated on a per-patient basis and compared using McNemar's test.

RESULTS

Among the 124 patients, 57 (46%) had CRLM, 6 (4.8%) had benign lesions, and 61 (49.2%) had no concerning lesions detected. Smaller CRLM lesions (<5 cm3) showed significantly higher uptake in the delayed scans relative to early imaging (p < 0.001). The SUV and TNR increased significantly in delayed imaging of all metastatic lesions (p < 0.001). The retention index of all CRLM was high (40.8%), especially for small lesions (54.8%). A total of 177 lesions in delayed images and 124 in standard early images were identified. In a per-patient analysis, delayed imaging had significantly higher sensitivity (100% vs. 87.7%) and specificity (91.0% vs. 94.0%) compared to early imaging (p-value = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

The detection of liver lesions using dual-time-point PET/CT scan improves the sensitivity and specificity for the detection of colorectal liver metastasis.

PET/CT imaging fibroblast activation protein in initial colorectal cancer: compared to 18 F-FDG PET/CT

OBJECTIVE

In this study, the potential advantage of FAPI over 18 F-labelled deoxyglucose ( 18 F-FDG) in evaluation of the initial staging colorectal cancer (CRC) was investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-two patients with histopathologically confirmed primary CRC were included in our study. They all underwent both 18 F-FDG and FAPI PET/CT. Lesion detectability and tracer uptakes, mainly quantified by maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and target-to-background ratio (TBR), were compared for paired lesions between both modalities using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and paired t-test.

RESULTS

Thirty-five CRC lesions in 32 patients were diagnosed. The sensitivity of FAPI PET/CT in diagnosis of the CRC lesions was 100% while 93.8% of 18 F-FDG PET/CT. FAPI and 18 F-FDG had a similar uptake in CRC lesion (mean SUVmax: 14.3 ± 8.6 vs. 15.4 ± 9.8, P  = 0.604), but lesions contained mucus and/or signet-ring cell carcinoma seemed to have a trend of higher FAPI uptake although there was no statistical difference (mean SUVmax: 12.7 ± 5.6 vs. 8.5 ± 4.1, P  = 0.152) and higher TBR (13.4 ± 6.2 vs. 4.9 ± 2.2, P  = 0.004) than those of 18 F-FDG. For regional lymph node metastases, both FAPI and FDG PET/CTs showed high sensitivity (7/8 vs. 7/8), specificity (7/8 vs. 6/8) and accuracy (14/16 vs. 13/16) (all P  > 0.05). For distant metastasis, FAPI PET/CT depicted more positive lesions in distant lymph node (46 vs. 26), liver (13 vs. 7) and peritoneum (107 vs. 45) than 18 F-FDG PET/CT. FAPI PET/CT also had a higher peritoneal cancer index score (median 11 vs 4; P  < 0.001) than 18 F-FDG PET/CT in evaluation of peritoneal metastases.

CONCLUSION

FAPI PET/CT showed high sensitivity in detection of primary CRC and superiority to 18 F-FDG PET/CT in detection of metastases to distant lymph node, liver and peritoneum.

Contribution of Metabolic Parameters and Pericolic Fat Stranding on Preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT in Predicting Post-operative Histopathology and Outcome in Colorectal Cancer

Purpose

We aimed to investigate the additional value of preoperative PET/CT and reveal relationships between metabolic parameters, pericolic fat stranding finding, postoperative histopathology, and overall survival in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods

CRC patients who underwent preoperative PET/CT between January 2017-December 2021 were analyzed. Lymph nodes, organ metastases, and metabolic parameters were evaluated from PET/CT. The pericolic fat stranding was evaluated from CT component. Relationships between these factors and postoperative histopathological findings were statistically analyzed. Survival analyses were performed.

Results

Ninety-one patients (59 males, 32 females) were included in the study. All tumors showed high FDG uptake (mean SUVmax 19.5 ± 9.9). SUVmax of the tumor differed significantly at T3 and T4 stages (p = 0.041). A significant correlation was found between MTV, TLG values and the differentiation degree (p = 0.005, 0.003, respectively). PET/CT predicted the N stage with a high accuracy rate (80%). PET/CT found additional metastases that changed treatment decisions in one-third of patients. A relationship was found between tumor length, surgical margin, lymphovascular invasion and pericolic fat stranding. In multivariate analysis, differentiation degree (HR = 26.1, 95%CI 1.672-408.467), MTV (HR = 0.3, 95%CI 0.071-0.841), TLG (HR = 3.5, 95%CI 1.065-11.193), and lymphovascular invasion (HR = 0.2, 95%CI 0.026-0.853, p = 0.033) were independent factors affecting overall survival.

Conclusion

Preoperative PET/CT contributes to CRC management by detecting additional metastases as well as predicting prognosis and postoperative findings such as T stage, N stage and tumor differentiation. The SUVmax may differentiate between T3 and T4 tumor. Reporting of pericolic fat stranding may contribute to the estimation of lymphatic invasion and positive surgical margin.

Designing clinical trials based on modern imaging and metastasis-directed treatments in patients with oligometastatic breast cancer: a consensus recommendation from the EORTC Imaging and Breast Cancer Groups

Breast cancer remains the most common cause of cancer death among women. Despite its considerable histological and molecular heterogeneity, those characteristics are not distinguished in most definitions of oligometastatic disease and clinical trials of oligometastatic breast cancer. After an exhaustive review of the literature covering all aspects of oligometastatic breast cancer, 35 experts from the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Imaging and Breast Cancer Groups elaborated a Delphi questionnaire aimed at offering consensus recommendations, including oligometastatic breast cancer definition, optimal diagnostic pathways, and clinical trials required to evaluate the effect of diagnostic imaging strategies and metastasis-directed therapies. The main recommendations are the introduction of modern imaging methods in metastatic screening for an earlier diagnosis of oligometastatic breast cancer and the development of prospective trials also considering the histological and molecular complexity of breast cancer. Strategies for the randomisation of imaging methods and therapeutic approaches in different subsets of patients are also addressed.

Oxaliplatin-Induced Sinusoidal Obstruction Syndrome Masquerading as Colorectal Liver Metastasis: A Case Report

INTRODUCTION

Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy is commonly used in adjuvant treatment of colon cancer as well as in neoadjuvant setting in patients with liver metastases. However oxaliplatin can cause damage to non-tumor bearing liver which presents as sinusoidal obstructive syndrome (SOS). These changes are difficult to differentiate from metastasis clinic-radiologically and manifests as sinusoidal dilatation, peliosis and nodular regenerative hyperplasia.

CASE

The present study reports the case of a patient with oxaliplatin-induced SOS which mimicked colo-rectal liver metastasis on follow up imaging studies after receiving neoadjuvant oxaliplatin based chemotherapy. After multidisciplinary discussion, patient was planned for simultaneous resection of rectal primary and right hepatectomy for metastasis. Final histopathology revealed no tumour in liver but the liver lesions seen radiologically were actually changes of oxaliplatin induced focal SOS and mimicked metastatic nodules.

CONCLUSION

In patients with colo-rectal cancer having received oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, SOS may be considered as one of the causes of newly developed liver lesions, and should be subjected to additional radio-pathologic evaluation to prevent overtreatment and avoiding potentially morbid surgeries.

Unravelling oligometastatic disease from the perspective of radiation and medical oncology. Part II: prostate cancer and colorectal cancer

Oligometastatic disease (OMD) defines a status of cancer that is intermediate between localized and widely spread metastatic disease, and can be treated with curative intent. While imaging diagnostic tools have considerably improved in recent years, unidentified micrometastases can still escape from current detection techniques allowing disease to progress. The variety of OMD scenarios are mainly defined by the number of metastases, the biological and molecular tumour profiles, and the timing of the development of metastases. Increasing knowledge has contributed to the earlier and improved detection of OMD, underlining the importance of an early disease control. Based on increasing detection rates of OMD in the current real clinical practice and the lack of standardized evidence-based guidelines to treat this cancer status, a board of experts from the Spanish Societies of Radiation Oncology (SEOR) and Medical Oncology (SEOM) organized a series of sessions to update the current state-of-the-art on OMD from a multidisciplinary perspective, and to discuss how results from clinical studies may translate into promising treatment options. This experts' review series summarizes what is known and what it is pending clarification in the context of OMD in the scenarios of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Breast Cancer (Part I), and Prostate Cancer and Colorectal Cancer (Part II), aiming to offer specialists a pragmatic framework that might contribute to the improved management of patients.

The role of [99mTc]Tc-HFAPi SPECT/CT in patients with malignancies of digestive system: first clinical experience

BACKGROUND

Recently, PET/CT imaging with radiolabelled FAP inhibitors (FAPIs) has been widely evaluated in diverse diseases. However, rare report has been published using SPECT/CT, a more available imaging method, with [99mTc]Tc-labelled FAPI. In this study, we evaluated the potential effect of [99mTc]Tc-HFAPi in clinical analysis for digestive system tumours.

METHODS

This is a single-centre prospective diagnostic efficiency study (Ethic approved No.: XJTU1AF2021LSK-021 of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University and ChiCTR2100048093 of the Chinese Clinical Trial Register). Forty patients with suspected or confirmed digestive system tumours underwent [99mTc]Tc-HFAPi SPECT/CT between January and June 2021. For dynamic biodistribution and dosimetry estimation, whole-body planar scintigraphy was performed at 10, 30, 90, 150, and 240 min post-injection in four representative patients. Optimal acquisition time was considered in all the patients at 60-90 min post-injection, then quantified or semi-quantified using SUVmax and T/B ratio was done. The diagnostic performance of [99mTc]Tc-HFAPi was calculated and compared with those of contrast-enhanced CT (ceCT) using McNemar test, and the changes of tumour stage and oncologic management were recorded.

RESULTS

Physiological distribution of [99mTc]Tc-HFAPi was observed in the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and to a lesser extent in the kidneys, spleen and thyroid. Totally, 40 patients with 115 lesions were analysed. The diagnostic sensitivity of [99mTc]Tc-HFAPi for non-operative primary lesions was similar to that of ceCT (94.29% [33/35] vs 100% [35/35], respectively; P = 0.5); in local relapse detection, [99mTc]Tc-HFAPi was successfully detected in 100% (n = 3) of patients. In the diagnosis of suspected metastatic lesions, [99mTc]Tc-HFAPi exhibited higher sensitivity (89.66% [26/29] vs 68.97% [20/29], respectively, P = 0.03) and specificity (97.9% [47/48] vs 85.4% [41/48], respectively, P = 0.03) than ceCT, especially with 100% (24/24) specificity in the diagnosis of liver metastases, resulting in 20.0% (8/40) changes in TNM stage and 15.0% (6/40) changes in oncologic management.

CONCLUSION

[99mTc]Tc-HFAPi demonstrates a greater diagnostic efficiency than ceCT in the detection of distant metastasis, especially in identifying liver metastases.

[18F]FDG PET/CT versus [18F]FDG PET/MRI for the diagnosis of colorectal liver metastasis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose

The purpose of our meta-analysis and systematic review was to compare the diagnostic performance of [18F]FDG PET/CT and [18F]FDG PET/MRI in colorectal liver metastasis.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for eligible articles until November 2022. Studies focusing on the diagnostic value of [18F]FDG PET/CT or PET/MRI for colorectal liver metastasis were included. Using a bivariate random-effect model, the pooled sensitivity and specificity for [18F]FDG PET/CT and [18F]FDG PET/MRI were reported as estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity among pooled studies was assessed using the I² statistic. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Performance Studies (QUADAS-2) method was used to evaluate the quality of the studies that were included.

Results

There were a total of 2743 publications identified in the initial search, finally, a total of 21 studies comprising 1036 patients were included. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of [18F]FDG PET/CT in were 0.86 (95% CI: 0.76-0.92), 0.89 (95% CI: 0.83-0.94), and 0.92(95% CI: 0.90-0.94). [18F]FDG PET/MRI were 0.84 (95% CI: 0.77-0.89), 1.00 (95% CI: 0.32-1.00), and 0.89(95% CI: 0.86-0.92), respectively.

Conclusion

[18F]FDG PET/CT shows similar performance compared to [18F]FDG PET/MRI in detecting colorectal liver metastasis. However, pathological results were not obtained for all patients in the included studies and PET/MRI results were derived from studies with small sample sizes. There is a need for additional, larger prospective studies on this issue.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier (CRD42023390949).

Surgical management of liver metastasis from colorectal cancer

This short review illustrates the benefits of a multidisciplinary team approach, especially when it comes to the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer liver metastasis. Therefore, the classification to resectable and primarily unresectable disease has to be determined prior to the first treatment decision. Particularly the use of conversion chemotherapy has the potential of altering initially unresectable liver metastasis to a potentially resectable disease. The three possible therapy choices for synchronously metastasized colorectal cancer will be reflected in this review, as well as local therapeutic alternatives or combinations.

Impact of baseline gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver magnetic resonance and diffusion-weighted imaging in resectable colorectal liver metastases: A prospective, monocentric study

BACKGROUND

Liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) utilizing hepatocyte-specific contrast agent and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is currently used to properly stage colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) in patients candidate to liver surgery. However, the added value of liver MRI in choosing the treatment strategy in resectable CRLM over computed tomography (CT)-scan is not clear.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a prospective monocentric collection of consecutive cases of patients with CRLM conceived with the aim to assess the added value of liver MRI in changing the initial treatment strategy planned according to CT-scan. Potential changes in the initially planned strategy were defined as: - from upfront surgery to perioperative chemotherapy (fluoropyrimidine and oxaliplatin) - from upfront surgery to first-line systemic therapy (doublet or triplet plus a biological agent) - from perioperative chemotherapy to first-line systemic therapy. Hypothesising that MRI may induce a change in the choice of the treatment strategy in the 20% of cases (alternative hypothesis), against a null hypothesis of 5%, with one-tailed alpha and beta errors of 0.05 and 0.20 respectively, 27 patients were needed. The added value of liver MRI would have been considered clinically meaningful if at least 4 changes in the treatment strategy were observed.

RESULTS

Among 27 enrolled patients, upfront surgery and perioperative chemotherapy strategies were chosen in 17 (63%) and 10 (37%) cases, respectively, based on CT-scan. After liver MRI, additional liver lesions were found in 8 patients (30%) and the initial strategy was changed in 7 patients (26%) (4 initially deemed candidate to upfront surgery and 3 initially sent to perioperative chemotherapy) that were treated with first-line systemic therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results support the indication of the current guidelines on the routine use of liver MRI in the initial workup of patients with resectable CRLM with an MRI-driven changes of initial treatment plan in a relevant percentage of cases.

Diagnostic performance of [18F]-FDG PET/MR in evaluating colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To calculate the diagnostic performance of [¹⁸F]-FDG PET/MR in colorectal cancer (CRC).

METHODS

This study was designed following the PRISMA-DTA guidelines. To be included, published original articles (until December 31, 2021) that met the following criteria were considered eligible: (1) evaluated [¹⁸F]-FDG PET/MR as the diagnostic method to detect CRC; (2) compared [¹⁸F]-FDG PET/MR with histopathology as the reference standard, or clinical/imaging composite follow-up when pathology was not available; (3) provided adequate crude data for meta-analysis. The diagnostic pooled measurements were calculated at patient and lesion levels. Regarding sub-group analysis, diagnostic measurements were calculated in "TNM staging," "T staging," "N staging," "M staging," and "liver metastasis" sub-groups. Additionally, we calculated the pooled performances in "rectal cancer: patient-level" and "rectal cancer: lesion-level" sub-groups. A hierarchical method was used to pool the performances. The bivariate model was conducted to find the summary points. Analyses were performed using STATA 16.

RESULTS

A total of 1534 patients from 18 studies were entered. The pooled sensitivities in CRC lesion detection (tumor, lymph nodes, and metastases) were 0.94 (95%CI: 0.89-0.97) and 0.93 (95%CI: 0.82-0.98) at patient-level and lesion-level, respectively. The pooled specificities were 0.89 (95%CI: 0.84-0.93) and 0.95 (95%CI: 0.90-0.98) at patient-level and lesion-level, respectively. In sub-groups, the highest sensitivity (0.97, 95%CI: 0.86-0.99) and specificity (0.99, 95%CI: 0.84-1.00) were calculated for "M staging" and "rectal cancer: lesion-level," respectively. The lowest sensitivity (0.81, 95%CI: 0.65-0.91) and specificity (0.79, 95%CI: 0.52-0.93) were calculated for "N staging" and "T staging," respectively.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis showed an overall high diagnostic performance for [¹⁸F]-FDG PET/MR in detecting CRC lesions/metastases. Thus, this modality can play a significant role in several clinical scenarios in CRC staging and restaging. Specifically, one of the main strengths of this modality is ruling out the existence of CRC lesions/metastases. Finally, the overall diagnostic performance was not found to be affected in the post-treatment setting.

The management of colorectal liver metastases amenable of surgical resection: How to shape treatment strategies according to clinical, radiological, pathological and molecular features

Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients have poor chances of long term survival, being < 15% of them still alive after 5 years from diagnosis. Nonetheless, patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) may be eligible for metastases resection thus being able to achieve long-term disease remission and survival. The likelihood for patients with CRLM of being or becoming eligible for liver metastasectomy is increasing, thanks to the evolution of surgical techniques, the availability of active systemic treatments and the widespread diffusion of experienced multidisciplinary boards to manage these patients. However, disease relapse after liver surgery is common and occurs in two-thirds of resected patients. Therefore, adequate radiological staging and risk stratification is crucial for the optimal selection of patients candidate to surgery in order to maximize the benefit-risk ratio of liver metastasectomy and to individualize the treatment strategy. Based on the multidimensional assessment, three possible approaches are available: upfront liver surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy, perioperative chemotherapy preceding and following liver surgery, and an upfront systemic treatment including chemotherapy plus a targeted agent, both chosen according to patients' and tumours' characteristics, then followed by liver surgery if indicated. In this review, we describe the most important factors impacting the therapeutic choices in patients with resectable and potentially resectable CRLM, and we discuss the most promising factors that may reshape the future decision-making process of these patients.

Hepatic Positron Emission Tomography: Applications in Metabolism, Haemodynamics and Cancer

Evaluating in vivo the metabolic rates of the human liver has been a challenge due to its unique perfusion system. Positron emission tomography (PET) represents the current gold standard for assessing non-invasively tissue metabolic rates in vivo. Here, we review the existing literature on the assessment of hepatic metabolism, haemodynamics and cancer with PET. The tracer mainly used in metabolic studies has been [¹⁸F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (¹⁸F-FDG). Its application not only enables the evaluation of hepatic glucose uptake in a variety of metabolic conditions and interventions, but based on the kinetics of ¹⁸F-FDG, endogenous glucose production can also be assessed. 14(R,S)-[¹⁸F]fluoro-6-thia-Heptadecanoic acid (¹⁸F-FTHA), ¹¹C-Palmitate and ¹¹C-Acetate have also been applied for the assessment of hepatic fatty acid uptake rates (¹⁸F-FTHA and ¹¹C-Palmitate) and blood flow and oxidation (¹¹C-Acetate). Oxygen-15 labelled water (¹⁵O-H₂O) has been used for the quantification of hepatic perfusion. ¹⁸F-FDG is also the most common tracer used for hepatic cancer diagnostics, whereas ¹¹C-Acetate has also shown some promising applications in imaging liver malignancies. The modelling approaches used to analyse PET data and also the challenges in utilizing PET in the assessment of hepatic metabolism are presented.

The Value of 18F-FDG-PET-CT Imaging in Treatment Evaluation of Colorectal Liver Metastases: A Systematic Review

(1) Background: Up to 50% of patients with colorectal cancer either have synchronous colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) or develop CRLM over the course of their disease. Surgery and thermal ablation are the most common local treatment options of choice. Despite development and improvement in local treatment options, (local) recurrence remains a significant clinical problem. Many different imaging modalities can be used in the follow-up after treatment of CRLM, lacking evidence-based international consensus on the modality of choice. In this systematic review, we evaluated ¹⁸F-FDG-PET-CT performance after surgical resection, thermal ablation, radioembolization, and neoadjuvant and palliative chemotherapy based on current published literature. (2) Methods: A systematic literature search was performed on the PubMed database. (3) Results: A total of 31 original articles were included in the analysis. Only one suitable study was found describing the role of ¹⁸F-FDG-PET-CT after surgery, which makes it hard to draw a firm conclusion. ¹⁸F-FDG-PET-CT showed to be of additional value in the follow-up after thermal ablation, palliative chemotherapy, and radioembolization. ¹⁸F-FDG-PET-CT was found to be a poor to moderate predictor of pathologic response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. (4) Conclusions: ¹⁸F-FDG-PET-CT is superior to conventional morphological imaging modalities in the early detection of residual disease after thermal ablation and in the treatment evaluation and prediction of prognosis during palliative chemotherapy and after radioembolization, and ¹⁸F-FDG-PET-CT could be considered in selected cases after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgical resection.

Imaging of Oligometastatic Disease

Simple Summary

The imaging of oligometastatic disease (OMD) is challenging as it requires precise loco-regional staging and whole-body assessment. The combination of imaging modalities is often required. The more accurate imaging tool will be selected according to tumor type, the timing with regard to measurement and treatment, metastatic location, and the patient’s individual risk for metastasis. The most commonly used modalities are contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging and metabolic and receptor-specific imaging, particularly, ¹⁸F-fluorodesoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT, used alone or in combination.

Abstract

Oligometastatic disease (OMD) is an emerging state of disease with limited metastatic tumor burden. It should be distinguished from polymetastatic disease due the potential curative therapeutic options of OMD. Imaging plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with OMD. The imaging tools needed in the case of OMD will differ according to different parameters, which include primary tumor type, timing between measurement and treatment, potential metastatic location and the patient’s individual risk for metastasis. In this article, OMD is defined and the use of different imaging modalities in several oncologic situations are described in order to better understand OMD and its specific implication for radiologists.

Does 18F-FDG PET/CT change the surgical management of potentially resectable colorectal liver metastases?

PURPOSE

Resectability assessment of patients with colorectal liver metastases is based on computed tomography and liver magnetic resonance imaging. Addition of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography has been recommended, but the impact of the added information remains unclear. The primary aim of this study was to determine how preoperative positron emission tomography/computed tomography changed management in patients with potentially resectable colorectal liver metastases. The secondary aim was to investigate whether findings on positron emission tomography/computed tomography correlated to metastatic disease in cases with extended surgery and influenced oncological outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study of the impact of adding positron emission tomography/computed tomography to conventional imaging in the surgical decision-making of colorectal liver metastases. All patients with colorectal liver metastases diagnosed by conventional imaging were included and assessed by a multidisciplinary team conference at Umeå University Hospital between June 2013 and December 2017. Eligibility criteria were all patients with potentially resectable colorectal liver metastases. Patients who underwent preoperative positron emission tomography/computed tomography in addition to conventional radiology were compared with those who underwent conventional imaging only.

RESULTS

151/220 patients underwent preoperative positron emission tomography/computed tomography. Findings on positron emission tomography/computed tomography changed the management in 10.6% of the patients. Eight patients were excluded from surgery after detection by positron emission tomography/computed tomography of extrahepatic disease. Eight patients underwent more extended surgery than initially planned due to positron emission tomography/computed tomography. Five of these positron emission tomography-positive resected sites were verified by pathology as metastatic disease. No difference in overall survival was seen following surgical resection in patients with and without a preoperative positron emission tomography/computed tomography.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative positron emission tomography/computed tomography resulted in a changed surgical management in 10.6% of cases in a selected cohort.

Imaging evaluation of the liver in oncology patients: A comparison of techniques

The liver is commonly affected by metastatic disease. Therefore, it is essential to detect and characterize liver metastases, assuming that patient management and prognosis rely on it. The imaging techniques that allow non-invasive assessment of liver metastases include ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET)/CT, and PET/MRI. In this paper, we review the imaging findings of liver metastases, focusing on each imaging modality's advantages and potential limitations. We also assess the importance of different imaging modalities for the management, follow-up, and therapy response of liver metastases. To date, both CT and MRI are the most appropriate imaging methods for initial lesion detection, follow-up, and assessment of treatment response. Multiparametric MRI is frequently used as a problem-solving technique for liver lesions and has evolved substantially over the past decade, including hardware and software developments and specific intravenous contrast agents. Several studies have shown that MRI performs better in small-sized metastases and moderate to severe liver steatosis cases. Although state-of-the-art MRI shows a greater sensitivity for detecting and characterizing liver metastases, CT remains the chosen method. We also present the controversial subject of the "economic implication" to use CT over MRI.

Comprehensive Imaging Characterization of Colorectal Liver Metastases

Colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) have heterogenous histopathological and immunohistochemical phenotypes, which are associated with variable responses to treatment and outcomes. However, this information is usually only available after resection, and therefore of limited value in treatment planning. Improved techniques for in vivo disease assessment, which can characterise the variable tumour biology, would support further personalization of management strategies. Advanced imaging of CRLM including multiparametric MRI and functional imaging techniques have the potential to provide clinically-actionable phenotypic characterisation. This includes assessment of the tumour-liver interface, internal tumour components and treatment response. Advanced analysis techniques, including radiomics and machine learning now have a growing role in assessment of imaging, providing high-dimensional imaging feature extraction which can be linked to clinical relevant tumour phenotypes, such as a the Consensus Molecular Subtypes (CMS). In this review, we outline how imaging techniques could reproducibly characterize the histopathological features of CRLM, with several matched imaging and histology examples to illustrate these features, and discuss the oncological relevance of these features. Finally, we discuss the future challenges and opportunities of CRLM imaging, with a focus on the potential value of advanced analytics including radiomics and artificial intelligence, to help inform future research in this rapidly moving field.

The Value of 18F-FDG PET/CT and Abdominal PET/MRI as a One-Stop Protocol in Patients With Potentially Resectable Colorectal Liver Metastases

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of simultaneous positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and abdominal positron emission tomography/magnet resonance imaging (PET/MRI) in the detection of liver metastases and extrahepatic disease (EHD) in patients with potentially resectable colorectal liver metastases (CLM).

Methods

Fifty-six patients with CLM underwent conventional imaging (chest and abdomen CT, liver contrast-enhanced CT or MRI) and PET imaging [fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) PET/CT and subsequent liver PET/MRI] for staging or restaging. Diagnostic ability of PET imaging was compared with conventional imaging. Abnormal findings were correlated with follow-up imaging and/or histology. The influence of the PET imaging findings was categorized for each patient in relation to operability and other significant findings. The clinical management included three modalities (surgery for resectable CLM, unresectable CLM with conversion treatment, and systemic therapy). The clinical impact of the imaging modality was analyzed. The operative histopathological analysis and/or imaging follow-up were performed as the standard of reference.

Results

This study enrolled a total of 56 patients (median age 60 years, 62.5% were male, 36 with colon cancer and 20 with rectal cancer). For EHD detection, PET/CT detected more EHD than conventional imaging (60.7% vs. 46.4%). PET/CT had different findings in 19 (33.9%) patients, including downstaging in 4 (7.1%) patients and upstaging in 15 (26.8%) patients. For liver lesion detection, PET/MRI showed comparable detection ability with CE-MRI and CE-CT (99.5%, 99.4%, and 86.5%, respectively) based on lesion analysis, much higher than PET/CT (47.5%). PET imaging had a major impact in 10/56 (17.9%) patients (4 from unresectable to resectable, 6 from resectable to unresectable) and a minor impact in 4/56 (7.1%) patients for changing the surgery extent. The therapeutic strategies had been altered in a total of 14/56 patients (25%) after PET/CT and PET/MRI scans.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate that simultaneous ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and abdominal PET/MRI scans can provide accurate information regarding CLM status and EHD, and can affect the management of 25% of the patients by changing the therapeutic strategies determined by conventional imaging. This new modality may serve as a new one-stop method in patients with potentially resectable CLM.

The Correlation between 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging SUVmax of Preoperative Colon Cancer Primary Lesions and Clinicopathological Factors

Background

The purpose of this study is to explore the correlation between the ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT imaging maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of preoperative colon cancer primary lesions and clinicopathological factors.

Methods

88 colon cancer patients diagnosed by histopathology were collected from January 2014 to December 2015. ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT imaging was performed before surgery. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used to assess the prognosis of colon cancer patients.

Results

The ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT imaging SUVmax value of preoperative colon cancer primary lesion was significantly correlated with the length of the lesion, clinical stage, histopathological type, and the degree of tumor differentiation. The SUVmax value of tumors with long-diameter, ≥ 3 cm, clinically high-stage, adenocarcinoma, and poorly differentiated lesions was significantly high. In addition, the consistency between PET/CT and surgical pathological results at stage I and IV was higher. Stage II and III PET/CT are basically consistent with the pathological results of surgery. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed that the 5-year event-free survival rate of the SUVmax > 18.26 group was significantly lower than that of the SUVmax ≤ 18.26 group.

Conclusion

¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT imaging SUVmax of preoperative colon cancer primary lesions can not only reflect the proliferation and invasion ability but also monitor the recurrence and metastasis of colon cancer.

Digital versus analog PET/CT in patients with known or suspected liver metastases

AIM

To assess if digital PET/CT improves liver lesion detectability compared to analog PET/CT in patients with known or suspected liver metastases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We prospectively included 83 cancer patients, with one or more of these conditions: history of liver metastases, clinical risk of having liver metastases or presence of suspected liver metastases on the first of the two PET/CTs. All patients were consecutively scanned on each PET/CT on the same day after a single [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose dose injection. The order of acquisition was randomly assigned. Three nuclear medicine physicians assessed both PET/CTs by counting the foci of high uptake suspicious of liver metastases. Findings were correlated with appropriate reference standards; 19 patients were excluded from the analysis due to insufficient lesion nature confirmation. The final sample consisted of 64 patients (34 women, mean age 68 ± 12 years).

RESULTS

As per-patient analysis, the mean number of liver lesions detected by the digital PET/CT (3.84 ± 4.25) was significantly higher than that detected by the analog PET/CT (2.91 ± 3.31); P < 0.001. Fifty-five patients had a positive PET/CT study for liver lesions. In 26/55 patients (47%), the digital PET/CT detected more lesions; 7/26 patients (27%) had detectable lesions only by the digital system and had <10 mm of diameter. Twenty-nine patients had the same number of liver lesions detected by both systems. In nine patients both PET/CT systems were negative for liver lesions.

CONCLUSION

Digital PET/CT offers improved detectability of liver lesions over the analog PET/CT in patients with known or suspected liver metastases.

Imaging of colorectal cancer liver metastases using contrast-enhanced US, multidetector CT, MRI, and FDG PET/CT: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Imaging of colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLMs) has improved in recent years. Therefore, the role of current imaging techniques needs to be defined.

PURPOSE

To assess the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT in the detection of CRCLMs.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

PubMed database was searched for articles published during 2000-2019. Inclusion criteria were as follows: diagnosis/suspicion of CRCLMs; CEUS, MDCT, MRI, or FDG PET/CT performed for the detection of CRCLMs; prospective study design; histopathologic examination, intraoperative findings and/or follow-up used as reference standard; and data for calculating sensitivity and specificity reported.

RESULTS

Twelve prospective studies were assessed, including 536 patients with CRCLMs (n = 1335). On a per-lesion basis, the sensitivity of CEUS, MDCT, MRI, and FDG PET/CT was 86%, 84%, 89%, and 62%, respectively. MRI had the highest sensitivity on a per-lesion analysis. CEUS and MDCT had comparable sensitivities. On a per-patient basis, the sensitivity and specificity of CEUS, MDCT, MRI, and FDG PET/CT was 80% and 97%, 87% and 95%, 87% and 94%, and 96% and 97%, respectively. The per-patient sensitivities for MRI and MDCT were similar. The sensitivity for MRI was higher than that for CEUS, MDCT, and FDG PET/CT for lesions <10 mm and lesions at least 10 mm in size. Hepatospecific contrast agent did not improve diagnostic performances.

CONCLUSION

MRI is the preferred imaging modality for evaluating CRCLMs. Both MDCT and CEUS can be used as alternatives.

Prognostic Significance of Pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT Volumetric Parameters in Patients With Colorectal Liver Metastasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) remains a clinical challenge due to the lack of reliable prognostic parameters. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prognostic value of pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT volumetric parameters for hepatic metastatic lesions (HMLs) in patients with CRLM.

METHODS

A systematic search was performed using the following combination of keywords: CRLM, FDG, PET, and prognosis. The inclusion criteria were studies using 18F-FDG PET/CT as an imaging tool before treatment, including volumetric parameters (metabolic tumor volume [MTV] and total lesion glycolysis [TLG]) for HMLs, and reported survival data. Event-free survival and overall survival were considered as survival markers. The effect on survival was determined by the effect size of the hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS

Our systematic search identified 668 records, and a total of 10 studies comprising 494 patients were included. The pooled HRs of the prognostic value of the MTV and TLG for event-free survival were 1.55 (95% CI, 1.21-1.99; P = 0.0006) and 1.64 (95% CI, 1.23-2.19; P = 0.0009) with significance, respectively. The pooled HRs of the prognostic value of the MTV and TLG for overall survival were 1.72 (95% CI, 1.32-2.23; P < 0.0001) and 2.09 (95% CI, 1.48-2.96; P < 0.0001) with significance, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher MTV and TLG for HMLs before treatment were identified as worse prognostic parameters in patients with CRLM. The MTV and TLG of 18F-FDG PET/CT could be used as predictors of prognosis.

Association between imaging response and survival following neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with resectable colorectal liver metastases: A cohort study

BACKGROUND

The association between the imaging response (structural or metabolic) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (neoCT) before colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) and survival is unclear.

METHOD

A total of 201 patients underwent their first CRLM resection. A total of 94 (47%) patients were treated with neoCT. A multivariable, Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was performed to compare overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) between response groups.

RESULTS

Multivariable regression analysis of the CT/MRI (n = 94) group showed no difference in survival (OS and PFS) in patients who had stable disease/partial response (SD/PR) or complete response (CR) versus patients who had progressive disease (PD) (OS: HR, 0.36 (95% CI: 0.11-1.19) p = .094, HR, 0.78 (95% CI: 0.13-4.50) p = .780, respectively), (PFS: HR, 0.70 (95% CI: 0.36-1.35) p = .284, HR, 0.51 (0.18-1.45) p = .203, respectively). In the FDG-PET group (n = 60) there was no difference in the hazard of death for patients with SD/PR or CR versus patients with PD for OS or PFS except for the PFS in the small CR subgroup (OS: HR, 0.75 (95% CI: 0.11-4.88) p = .759, HR, 1.21 (95% CI: 0.15-9.43) p = .857), (PFS: HR, 0.34% (95% CI: 0.09-1.22), p = .097, HR, 0.17 (95% CI: 0.04-0.62) p = .008, respectively).

CONCLUSION

There was no convincing evidence of association between imaging response to neoCT and survival following CRLM resection.

HMGB1, the Next Predictor of Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization for Liver Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer?

HMGB1 is an important mediator of inflammation during ischemia-reperfusion injury on organs. The serum expression of HMGB1 was increased significantly on the 1st day after TACE and decreased significantly which was lower on the 30th day after TACE. Tumor markers of post-DEB-TACE decreased significantly. The correlational analysis showed that patients with low HMGB1 expression had lower risks of fever and liver injury compared those with the higher expression, while the ORR is relatively worse. Patients with lower expression of HMGB1 had longer PFS, better efficacy, and higher quality of life. With the high post-expression, the low expression had lower incidence of fever and liver injury too. There was no statistical difference in the one-year survival among the different groups. The quality of life of all patients was improved significantly. The over-expression of HMGB1 in LMCRC is an adverse prognostic feature and a positive predictor of response to TACE.

Incidental Finding of Endobronchial Metastasis by 18F-FDG PET/CT Leads to Change in Management in a Patient With Rectal Adenocarcinoma

A 58-year-old man with history of resected rectal adenocarcinoma and synchronous unifocal pulmonary metastasis showed a solitary pulmonary relapse in follow-up CT after 3 years of complete remission. Resection was planned. Preoperative F-FDG PET/CT detected a high focal F-FDG uptake in the left main bronchus. Bronchoscopy showed a papillary endobronchial lesion that was biopsied. Histology confirmed distant colorectal metastasis. The initial treatment plan changed, and the recommendation for systemic therapy was made by a multidisciplinary oncology team. Endobronchial metastases are rare and difficult to detect in conventional CT. PET/CT is useful to uncover endobronchial metastasis, which may change patient management.

Is It Time to Introduce PET/CT in Rectal Cancer Guidelines?

At the moment, international guidelines for rectal cancer suggest to consider F-FDG PET/CT scan in a few conditions: (1) at disease presentation in case of suspected or proven metastatic synchronous adenocarcinoma with potentially curable M1 disease; (2) in the recurrence workup for serial carcinoembryonic antigen level elevation; (3) in the recurrence workup with metachronous metastases documented by CT, MRI, or biopsy; (4) in case of strong contraindication to IV contrast agent administration; and (5) to evaluate an equivocal finding on a contrast-enhanced CT or MRI. PET/CT is not indicated in the follow-up or surveillance of rectal cancer. On the other hand, an attentive evaluation of the literature shows that PET/CT may also be used in some circumstances with significant levels of diagnostic accuracy. This review article aims to emphasize differences between current international guidelines and scientific literature in the role of PET/CT in rectal cancer.

Is It Time to Introduce PET/CT in Colon Cancer Guidelines?

International colon cancer guidelines suggest F-FDG PET/CT in a few circumstances: (1) at disease presentation in case of suspected or proven metastatic synchronous adenocarcinoma; (2) in the workup of recurrent colon cancer with metachronous metastases documented by CT, MRI, or biopsy and in case of serial CEA elevation with negative colonoscopy and negative CT; and (3) in case of contraindication to iodine- and gadolinium-based contrast agents. However, review of the literature has shown that PET/CT can also be used in other scenarios with significant levels of diagnostic advantage. This review aims to emphasize differences between guidelines and scientific literature for the use of PET/CT in colon cancer.

Clinical application and research advancement of positron emission tomography/computed tomography in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors of the digestive system. Early diagnosis and accurate staging and restaging of tumors are the preconditions for standardized treatment of colorectal cancer, which is conducive to the selection of treatment options and the evaluation of prognosis, as well as the improvement of patients' quality of life. With the popularization of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), its value in the diagnosis, staging and restaging, treatment decision-making, and efficacy and prognosis assessment of colorectal cancer is becoming increasingly important. This review briefly introduces the application and advancement of PET/CT in the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer, in the hope that clinicians can have a more comprehensive understanding of the significance of PET/CT in the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer.

Preoperative 18F-FDG PET/computed tomography predicts survival following resection for colorectal liver metastases

OBJECTIVE

The liver is the most frequent metastatic site from colorectal cancer and about 20% of these patients are treated by surgical resection. However, the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) following resection is only about 25% and 5-year overall survival (OS) about 38%. The aim of the study was to evaluate the ability of metabolic and volumetric measurements from fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) PET/computed tomography (CT) prior to resection for colorectal liver metastases (CLM) to predict survival.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Preoperative F-FDG PET/CT examinations were assessed. Metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), maximum, mean and peak standardized uptake values and tumor to background ratio, were obtained for all CLM. Cutoff values were determined for each of these parameters by using receiver operating characteristic analysis dividing the patients into two groups. DFS, liver recurrence-free survival (LRFS), OS and cancer-specific survival (CSS) for patients over and under the cutoff value were compared by using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven patients who underwent F-FDG PET/CT prior to resection for CLM were included. Low values of total MTV and TLG were significantly correlated to improved 5-year LRFS (P = 0.016 and 0.006) and CSS (P = 0.034 and 0.008). Patients who developed liver recurrence had significantly higher total MTV and TLG compared to patients without liver recurrence (P = 0.042 and 0.047).

CONCLUSION

Low values of total MTV and TLG were significantly correlated to improved LRFS and CSS and may improve the risk stratification of patients considered for resection for CLM.

The actual management of colorectal liver metastases

Colorectal cancer is one of the most frequent cancers in the world and between 50% and 60% of patients will develop colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) during the disease. There have been great improvements in the management of CRLM during the last decades. The combination of modern chemotherapeutic and biological systemic treatments with aggressive surgical resection strategies is currently the base for the treatment of patients considered unresectable until few years ago. Furthermore, several new treatments for the local control of CRLM have been developed and are now part of the arsenal of multidisciplinary teams for the treatment of these complex patients. The aim of this review was to summarize and update the management of CRLM, its controversies and relevant evidence.

Diagnostic performance of various liquid biopsy methods in detecting colorectal cancer: A meta-analysis

Liquid biopsy is a promising method in detecting colorectal cancer (CRC). However, previous meta‐analyses only focused on the diagnostic performance of cell‐free DNA (cfDNA). Therefore, we firstly evaluated the overall performance of all liquid biopsy methods. The pooled sensitivities, specificities, diagnostic odds ratios, and area under curve (AUC) of summary receiver operating characteristic curve for all liquid biopsy methods, exosomes, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), and cfDNA were calculated, respectively. A total of 62 articles involving 18 739 individuals were included. Fifty‐one articles were about cfDNA, five articles were about CTCs, and six articles were about exosomes. The overall performance of all liquid biopsy methods had a pooled sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.76‐0.78), 0.89 (95% CI 0.88‐0.90), and 0.9004, respectively. The sensitivities were 0.82 (95% CI 0.79‐0.85), 0.76 (95% CI 0.72‐0.80), and 0.76 (95% CI 0.75‐0.77) for CTCs, exosomes, and cfDNA, respectively. The specificities were 0.97 (95% CI95% CI 0.95‐0.99), 0.92 (95% CI 0.89‐0.94), and 0.88 (95% CI 0.87‐0.89) for CTCs, exosomes, and cfDNA, respectively. The AUC were 0.9772, 0.9037, and 0.8963 for CTCs, exosomes, and cfDNA, respectively. The overall performance of all liquid biopsy methods had great diagnostic value in detecting CRC, regardless of subtypes. Among all liquid biopsy methods, CTCs showed the best diagnostic performance.

Diagnostic accuracy of FDG-PET/MRI versus pelvic MRI and thoracic and abdominal CT for detecting synchronous distant metastases in rectal cancer patients

PURPOSE

We compared the diagnostic accuracy of detecting distant metastases for baseline rectal cancer staging between PET/MRI and conventional staging (CS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective study from November 2016 to April 2018 included 101 rectal adenocarcinoma patients for primary staging. These patients underwent whole-body PET/MRI in addition to CS (pelvic MRI and thoracic and abdominal contrast-enhanced CT). Different readers analyzed CS and PET/MRI findings for primary tumor, nodal, and metastatic staging. The presence, number, and location of metastases were recorded according to the organ involved (non-regional lymph nodes (LNs), liver, lungs, or others). Lesions were defined as positive, negative, or indeterminate. The number of lesions per organ was limited to 10. The McNemar test was used to compare the accuracies.

RESULTS

PET/MRI exhibited a higher accuracy in detecting metastatic disease than CS in all patients (88.4% vs. 82.6%, p = 0.003) and in patients with extramural vascular invasion (EMVI) (88.9% vs. 85.5%, p = 0.013). The detection rate of PET/MRI was superior to that of CS for all lesions [84.1% vs. 68.9%, p = 0.001], as well as those in the liver (89.2% vs. 84.2%), non-regional LNs (90.0% vs. 36.7%), and lungs (76.4% vs. 66.9%). PET/MRI correctly classified 19/33 (57.5%) patients with indeterminate lesions on CS.

CONCLUSION

PET/MRI yields higher accuracy than CS for detecting distant synchronous metastases in the baseline staging of patients with rectal cancer and EMVI. PET/MRI exhibited a higher detection rate than CS for identifying non-regional LNs, hepatic lesions, and pulmonary lesions as well as correctly classifying patients with indeterminate lesions.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT02537340.

Preoperative imaging for colorectal liver metastases: a nationwide population-based study

Background

In patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) preoperative imaging may include contrast‐enhanced (ce) MRI and [¹⁸F]fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F‐FDG) PET–CT. This study assessed trends and variation between hospitals and oncological networks in the use of preoperative imaging in the Netherlands.

Methods

Data for all patients who underwent liver resection for CRLM in the Netherlands between 2014 and 2018 were retrieved from a nationwide auditing database. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess use of ceMRI, ¹⁸F‐FDG PET–CT and combined ceMRI and ¹⁸F‐FDG PET–CT, and trends in preoperative imaging and hospital and oncological network variation.

Results

A total of 4510 patients were included, of whom 1562 had ceMRI, 872 had ¹⁸F‐FDG PET–CT, and 1293 had combined ceMRI and ¹⁸F‐FDG PET–CT. Use of ceMRI increased over time (from 9·6 to 26·2 per cent; P < 0·001), use of ¹⁸F‐FDG PET–CT decreased (from 28·6 to 6·0 per cent; P < 0·001), and use of both ceMRI and ¹⁸F‐FDG PET–CT 16·9 per cent) remained stable. Unadjusted variation in the use of ceMRI, ¹⁸F‐FDG PET–CT, and combined ceMRI and ¹⁸F‐FDG PET–CT ranged from 5·6 to 100 per cent between hospitals. After case‐mix correction, hospital and oncological network variation was found for all imaging modalities.

Discussion

Significant variation exists concerning the use of preoperative imaging for CRLM between hospitals and oncological networks in the Netherlands. The use of MRI is increasing, whereas that of ¹⁸F‐FDG PET–CT is decreasing.