Correlation of the apparent diffusion coefficient and the standardized uptake value in neoplastic lesions: a meta-analysis

Predictive Value of Diffusion, Glucose Metabolism Parameters of PET/MR in Patients With Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated With Chemoradiotherapy

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the predictive value of the pretreatment, metabolic, and diffusion parameters of a primary tumor assessed with PET/MR on patient clinical outcomes.

Methods: Retrospective evaluation was performed using PET/MR image data sets acquired using the single tracer injection dual imaging of 68 histologically proven head and neck cancer patients 4 weeks before receiving definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT). PET/MR was performed before the CRT and 12 weeks after the CRT for response evaluation. Image data (PET and MRI diffusion-weighted imaging [DWI]) was used to specify the maximum standard uptake value, the peak lean body mass corrected, SUV_max, the metabolic tumor volume, the total lesion glycolysis (SUV_max, SUL_peak, MTV, and TLG), and the mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC_mean) of the primary tumor. Based on the results of the therapeutic response evaluation, two patient subgroups were created: one with a viable tumor and another without. Metabolic and diffusion data, from the pretreatment PET/MR and the therapeutic response, were correlated using Spearman's correlation coefficient and Wilcoxon's test.

Results: After completing the CRT, a viable residual tumor was detected in 36/68 (53%) cases, and 32/68 (47%) patients showed complete remission. However, no significant correlation was found between the pretreatment parameter, ADC_mean (p = 0.88), and the therapeutic success. The PET parameters, SUV_max and SUL_peak, MTV, and TLG (p = 0.032, p = 0.01, p < 0.0001, p = 0.0004) were statistically significantly different between the two patient subgroups.

Conclusion: This study found that MRI-based (ADC_mean) data from FDG PET/MR pretreatment could not be used to predict therapeutic response although the PET parameters SUV_max, SUL_peak, MTV, and TLG proved to be more useful; thus, their inclusion in risk stratification may also be of additional value.

Correlation between apparent diffusion coefficients and metabolic parameters in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: A prospective study with integrated PET/MRI

PURPOSE

Apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) derived from diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) and metabolic parameters derived from ¹⁸F-FDG positron emission tomography (PET) are promising prognostic indicators for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, the relationship between them remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between ADCs and metabolic parameters in hypopharyngeal SCC (HSCC) using integrated PET/MRI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-seven patients with biopsy-proven HSCC underwent integrated ¹⁸F-FDG neck PET/MRI. ADCs of HSCC, including the mean and minimum ADC values (ADC_mean and ADC_min), were measured manually on ADC maps. Metabolic parameters of HSCC, including maximum and mean standardized uptake values (SUV_max and SUV_mean), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG), were calculated automatically on PET images. Spearman correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationships between ADCs and metabolic parameters in HSCC tumors as well as in tumor groups with different histological grading, clinical staging, and anatomical subsites. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

No significant correlation was observed between ADCs and ¹⁸F-FDG PET metabolic parameters in the entire cohort, except for a significant inverse correlation between ADC_mean and MTV (r = -0.556, P = 0.003). Furthermore, a significant inverse correlation was observed between ADC_mean and MTV of HSCC in the moderately to well differentiated group (r_ADCmean/MTV = -0.692, P = 0.006), stage III group (r_ADCmean/MTV = -0.758, P = 0.003), and pyriform sinus group (r_ADCmean/MTV = -0.665, P = 0.007), whereas no significant correlation was observed in the poorly differentiated group, stage IV group, or non-pyriform sinus group.

CONCLUSIONS

Inverse correlation between ADC_mean and MTV in the HSCC population was observed and the correlativity depended on histological grading, clinical staging, and anatomical subsites of HSCC.

Correlation between histogram-based DCE-MRI parameters and 18F-FDG PET values in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: Evaluation in primary tumors and metastatic nodes

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the correlation between histogram-based Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) parameters and positron emission tomography with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG-PET) values in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), both in primary tumors (PTs) and in metastatic lymph nodes (LNs).

METHODS

52 patients with a new pathologically-confirmed OPSCC were included in the present retrospective cohort study. Imaging including DCE-MRI and 18F-FDG PET/CT scans were acquired in all patients. Both PTs and the largest LN, if present, were volumetrically contoured. Quantitative parameters, including the transfer constants, Ktrans and Kep, and the volume of extravascular extracellular space, ve, were calculated from DCE-MRI. The percentiles (P), P10, P25, P50, P75, P90, and skewness, kurtosis and entropy were obtained from the histogram-based analysis of each perfusion parameter. Standardized uptake values (SUV), SUVmax, SUVpeak, SUVmean, metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were calculated applying a SUV threshold of 40%. The correlations between all variables were investigated with the Spearman-rank correlation test. To exclude false positive results under multiple testing, the Benjamini-Hockberg procedure was applied.

RESULTS

No significant correlations were found between any parameters in PTs, while significant associations emerged between Ktrans and 18F-FDG PET parameters in LNs.

CONCLUSIONS

Evident relationships emerged between DCE-MRI and 18F-FDG PET parameters in OPSCC LNs, while no association was found in PTs. The complex relationships between perfusion and metabolic biomarkers should be interpreted separately for primary tumors and lymph-nodes. A multiparametric approach to analyze PTs and LNs before treatment is advisable in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Evaluation of quantitative imaging parameters in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Functional imaging such as 18F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT), 18F-fluoro-misonidazole (F-MISO)-PET/CT, and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) can assess complex biological phenomena in tumors reflecting underlying disease biology. The aim of this prospective observational study was to correlate quantitative imaging parameters derived from pre-treatment biological imaging such as FDG-PET/CT, F-MISO-PET/CT, and DW-MRI with each other andì with clinical outcomes in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated with definitive radio(chemo)therapy.

METHODS

Twenty patients with pharyngo-laryngeal cancers underwent pre-treatment biological imaging. Gross tumor volume (GTV) was delineated on axial planning CT (GTVCT). Quantitative FDG-PET/CT parameters included maximum, mean, minimum standardized uptake values (SUVmax-FDG, SUVmean-FDG, SUVmin-FDG); metabolic tumor volume (MTV); and total lesion glycolysis (TLG). F-MISO-PET/CT parameters included hypoxic tumor volume (HTV); maximum, mean, minimum SUV; and fractional hypoxic volume (FHV). Mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCmean) was derived from DW-MRI.

RESULTS

There was moderately strong positive correlation (r=0.616, p=0.005) between GTVCT and MTV. HTV derived from F-MISO-PET/CT at 3-hours (HTV3hrs-F-MISO) showed strong positive correlation with GTVCT (r=0.753, p<0.0001) and MTV (r=0.796, p<0.0001) respectively. ADCmean showed strong positive correlations with SUVmean-5hrs-F-MISO (r=0.713, p=0.021) and SUVmin-5hrs-FMISO (r=0.731, p=0.016) respectively. A moderate negative correlation (r=-0.500, p=0.049) was observed between ADCmean and MTV. At a median follow up of 44 months, the 5-year Kaplan-Meier estimates of loco-regional control, disease-free survival, and overall survival were 53%, 43%, and 40% respectively. Larger volume of primary tumor (GTVCT>22cc and MTV>7.9cc) and increasing hypoxia (HTV3hr-F-MSO>4.9cc) were associated with worse outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Functional imaging represents an attractive and non-invasive modality to assess complex biological phenomena in solid tumors. Larger tumor volume and increasing hypoxia emerged as putative prognostic imaging biomarkers in HNSCC.

Relationships between histogram analysis of ADC values and complex 18F-FDG-PET parameters in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Purpose

Histogram analysis is an emergent imaging technique to further analyze radiological images and to obtain imaging biomarker. In head and neck cancer, MRI and PET are routinely used in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to analyze associations between histogram based ADC parameters and complex FDG-PET derived parameters in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Methods

34 patients (26% female, mean age, 56.7 ± 10.2 years) with primary HNSCC were prospectively included into the study. ADC histogram parameters were calculated by inhouse made matlab software using a whole lesion measurement. For each tumor, maximum and mean standardized uptake values (SUVmax, SUVmean), Total Lesion Glycolysis (TLG) and Metabolic Tumor Volume (MTV) were determined on PET-images. Spearman's correlation coefficient (ρ) was used to analyze associations between investigated parameters. Benjamini-Hochberg correction was used to adjust for multiple testing. Mann-Whitney test was used for group discrimination. P-values < 0.05 were taken to indicate statistical significance.

Results

The correlation analysis in the whole tumor group revealed a statistically significant correlation between entropy and MTV as well as TLG (ρ = 0.67, P<0.0001 and ρ = 0.61, P = 0.0002 respectively).

There were statistically significant differences between T1/2 and T3/4 tumors in the following parameters: entropy (2.07 ± 0.36 vs 2.61 ± 0.43, P = 0.007), SUVmax (10.79 ± 4.13 vs 17.93 ± 5.89, P = 0.007), SUVmean (6.39 ± 2.48 vs 9.81 ± 4.49, P = 0.01), SUVmin (4.09 ± 1.57 vs 6.34 ± 2.59, P = 0.03), MTV (9.50 ± 7.92 vs 20.36 ± 13.30, P = 0.02), TGU (55.97 ± 39.09 vs 212.3 ± 186.3, P = 0.002).

Conclusion

This study showed that entropy derived from ADC maps is strongly associated with MTV and TLG in HNSCC. Entropy, SUVmax, SUVmean, TLG and MTV were statistically significant higher in T3/4 tumors in comparison to T1/2 carcinomas.

Cervical Cancer: Associations between Metabolic Parameters and Whole Lesion Histogram Analysis Derived from Simultaneous 18F-FDG-PET/MRI

Multimodal imaging has been increasingly used in oncology, especially in cervical cancer. By using a simultaneous positron emission (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, PET/MRI) approach, PET and MRI can be obtained at the same time which minimizes motion artefacts and allows an exact imaging fusion, which is especially important in anatomically complex regions like the pelvis. The associations between functional parameters from MRI and ¹⁸F-FDG-PET reflecting different tumor aspects are complex with inconclusive results in cervical cancer. The present study correlates histogram analysis and ¹⁸F-FDG-PET parameters derived from simultaneous FDG-PET/MRI in cervical cancer. Overall, 18 female patients (age range: 32–79 years) with histopathologically confirmed squamous cell cervical carcinoma were retrospectively enrolled. All 18 patients underwent a whole-body simultaneous ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/MRI, including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) using b-values 0 and 1000 s/mm². Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) histogram parameters included several percentiles, mean, min, max, mode, median, skewness, kurtosis, and entropy. Furthermore, mean and maximum standardized uptake values (SUV_mean and SUV_max), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were estimated. No statistically significant correlations were observed between SUV_max or SUV_mean and ADC histogram parameters. TLG correlated inversely with p25 (r=−0.486, P=0.041), p75 (r=−0.490, P=0.039), p90 (r=−0.513, P=0.029), ADC median (r=−0.497, P=0.036), and ADC mode (r=−0.546, P=0.019). MTV also showed significant correlations with several ADC parameters: mean (r=−0.546, P=0.019), p10 (r=−0.473, P=0.047), p25 (r=−0.569, P=0.014), p75 (r=−0.576, P=0.012), p90 (r=−0.585, P=0.011), ADC median (r=−0.577, P=0.012), and ADC mode (r=−0.597, P=0.009). ADC histogram analysis and volume-based metabolic 18F-FDG-PET parameters are related to each other in cervical cancer.

Multiparametric PET/MR imaging biomarkers are associated with overall survival in patients with pancreatic cancer

PURPOSE

To correlate the overall survival (OS) with the imaging biomarkers of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and glucose metabolic activity derived from integrated fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET)/MRI in patients with pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

This prospective study was approved by the institutional review board and informed consent was obtained from all participants. Sixty-three consecutive patients (mean age, 62.7 ± 12 y; men/women, 40/23) with pancreatic cancer underwent PET/MRI before treatment. The imaging biomarkers were comprised of DCE-MRI parameters (peak, IAUC 60 , K trans , k ep , v e ), the minimum apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCmin), choline level, standardized uptake values, metabolic tumor volume, and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) of the tumors. The relationships between these imaging biomarkers with OS were evaluated with the Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard models.

RESULTS

Seventeen (27%) patients received curative surgery, with the median follow-up duration being 638 days. Univariate analysis showed that patients at a low TNM stage (≦3, P = 0.041), high peak (P = 0.006), high ADCmin (P = 0.002) and low TLG (P = 0.01) had better OS. Moreover, high TLG/peak ratio was associated with poor OS (P = 0.016). Multivariate analysis indicated that ADCmin (P = 0.011) and TLG/peak ratio (P = 0.006) were independent predictors of OS after adjustment for age, gender, tumor size, and TNM stage. The TLG/peak ratio was an independent predictor of OS in a subgroup of patients who did not receive curative surgery (P = 0.013).

CONCLUSION

The flow-metabolism mismatch reflected by the TLG/peak ratio may better predict OS than other imaging biomarkers from PET/MRI in pancreatic cancer patients.

Spatial relationship of 2-deoxy-2-[18F]-fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance diffusion imaging metrics in cervical cancer

Background

This study investigated the spatial relationship of 2-deoxy-2-[¹⁸F]-fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography ([¹⁸F]FDG-PET) standardized uptake values (SUVs) and apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) derived from magnetic resonance (MR) diffusion imaging on a voxel level using simultaneously acquired PET/MR data.

We performed an institutional retrospective analysis of patients with newly diagnosed cervical cancer who received a pre-treatment simultaneously acquired [¹⁸F]FDG-PET/MR. Voxel SUV and ADC values, and global tumor metrics including maximum SUV (SUV_max), mean ADC (ADC_mean), and mean tumor-to-muscle ADC ratio (ADC_T/M) were compared. The impacts of histology, grade, and tumor volume on the voxel SUV to ADC relationship were also evaluated. The potential prognostic value of the voxel SUV/ADC relationship was evaluated in an exploratory analysis using Kaplan-Meier/log-rank and univariate Cox analysis.

Results

Seventeen patients with PET/MR scans were identified. There was a significant inverse correlation between SUV_max and ADC_mean, and SUV_max and ADC_T/M. In the voxelwise analysis, squamous cell carcinomas (SCCAs) and poorly differentiated tumors showed a consistent significant inverse correlation between voxel SUV and ADC values; adenocarcinomas (AdenoCAs) and well/moderately differentiated tumors did not. The strength of the voxel SUV/ADC correlation varied with metabolic tumor volume (MTV). On log-rank analysis, the correlation between voxel SUV/ADC values was prognostic of disease-free survival (DFS).

Conclusions

In this hypothesis-generating study, a consistent inverse correlation between voxel SUV and ADC values was seen in SCCAs and poorly differentiated tumors. On univariate statistical analysis, correlation between voxel SUV and ADC values was prognostic for DFS.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13550-018-0403-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.