Rate of Distant Metastases on 18F-FDG PET/CT at Initial Staging of Breast Cancer: Comparison of Women Younger and Older Than 40 Years

Therapeutic impact of 18F-FDG PET/CT for initial staging in patients with clinical stage I and IIA, HER2-positive, or triple-negative breast cancer

PURPOSE

While 18F-FDG PET/CT (FDG-PET/CT) is consensual for clinical stage ≥ IIB breast cancers (BC), its benefit for stage I or IIA HER2+ or triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients lacks sufficient evidence. We reported a single-institution, retrospective study evaluating FDG-PET/CT impact on patient management and staging for stage I or IIA HER2+ or Triple-Negative BC.

METHODS

Patients who underwent FDG-PET/CT staging before any treatment between January 2015 and December 2020 at Oscar Lambret Center were included.

EXCLUSIONS

patients with symptoms or conventional imaging suggestive of metastatic dissemination, or with prior malignancies. Initial stage was determined from mammography, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, and clinical examination. Staging and therapeutic impact based on FDG-PET/CT findings collected, including intra- (modification of dose/site/strategy in a type of management previously indicated) and inter-modality (modification of planned treatment strategy) changes.

RESULTS

The cohort included 287 female patients with clinical stage I or IIA, HER2+ , or TNBC. Therapeutic impact observed for 18% of patients (n = 52), with 2% (n = 7) undergoing inter-modality change with omission of planned surgery. The impact on patient management was higher for stage IIA patients (20%, 47/237) than for stage I patients (10%, 5/50). Among stage IIA disease, changes in management were more important for T2N0 patients (22%, 44/205) than for T1N1 patients (9%, 3/32). While not statistically significant, trends suggest usefulness of FDG-PET/CT for T2N0 patients.

CONCLUSION

Considering substantial therapeutic implications, our study suggests the usefulness of FDG-PET/CT for patients with stage IIA, HER2-positive, or Triple-Negative BC with tumor size > 2 cm (T2N0).

Joint EANM-SNMMI guideline on the role of 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT in no special type breast cancer : (endorsed by the ACR, ESSO, ESTRO, EUSOBI/ESR, and EUSOMA)

INTRODUCTION

There is much literature about the role of 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT in patients with breast cancer (BC). However, there exists no international guideline with involvement of the nuclear medicine societies about this subject.

PURPOSE

To provide an organized, international, state-of-the-art, and multidisciplinary guideline, led by experts of two nuclear medicine societies (EANM and SNMMI) and representation of important societies in the field of BC (ACR, ESSO, ESTRO, EUSOBI/ESR, and EUSOMA).

METHODS

Literature review and expert discussion were performed with the aim of collecting updated information regarding the role of 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT in patients with no special type (NST) BC and summarizing its indications according to scientific evidence. Recommendations were scored according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) criteria.

RESULTS

Quantitative PET features (SUV, MTV, TLG) are valuable prognostic parameters. In baseline staging, 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT plays a role from stage IIB through stage IV. When assessing response to therapy, 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT should be performed on certified scanners, and reported either according to PERCIST, EORTC PET, or EANM immunotherapy response criteria, as appropriate. 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT may be useful to assess early metabolic response, particularly in non-metastatic triple-negative and HER2+ tumours. 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT is useful to detect the site and extent of recurrence when conventional imaging methods are equivocal and when there is clinical and/or laboratorial suspicion of relapse. Recent developments are promising.

CONCLUSION

2-[18F]FDG PET/CT is extremely useful in BC management, as supported by extensive evidence of its utility compared to other imaging modalities in several clinical scenarios.

The Japanese breast cancer society clinical practice guidelines for breast cancer screening and diagnosis, 2022 edition

This article provides updates to readers based on the newly published Japanese Breast Cancer Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis, 2022 Edition. These guidelines incorporate the latest evaluation of evidence from studies of diagnostic accuracy. For each clinical question, outcomes for benefits and harms were established, and qualitative or quantitative systematic reviews were conducted. Recommendations were determined through voting by a multidisciplinary group, and guidelines were documented to facilitate shared decision-making among patients and medical professionals. The guidelines address screening, surveillance, and pre- and postoperative diagnosis of breast cancer. In an environment that demands an integrated approach, decisions are needed on how to utilize modalities, such as mammography, ultrasound, MRI, and PET/CT. Additionally, it is vital to understand the appropriate use of new technologies, such as tomosynthesis, elastography, and contrast-enhanced ultrasound, and to consider how best to adapt these methods for individual patients.

Breast Cancer Systemic Staging (Comparison of Computed Tomography, Bone Scan, and 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose PET/Computed Tomography)

After an overview of the principles of bone scintigraphy, contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET/CT, the advantages and limits of these modalities in the staging of breast cancer are discussed in this paper. CT and PET/CT are not optimal for delineating primary tumor volume, and PET is less efficient than the sentinel node biopsy to depict small axillary lymph node metastases. In large breast cancer tumor, FDG PET/CT is useful to show extra-axillary lymph nodes. FDG PET/CT is superior to bone scan and CE-CT in detecting distant metastases, and it results in a change of treatment plan in nearly 15% of patients.

Imaging characteristics of tenosynovial giant cell tumors on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography: a retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND

¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT) is useful for assessing location, metastasis, staging, and recurrence of malignant tumors. Tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TSGCT) is a benign tumor; however, some studies have reported that TSGCTs have a high uptake of FDG. Few studies have reported on the detailed evaluation of TSGCT using ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the image characteristics and locations, particularly where possible, with or without, extra-articular invasion from TSGCT of the knee in ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT could occur.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the patients with TSGCT who were diagnosed pathologically either by biopsy or surgical specimen. Furthermore, we evaluated the difference of the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) between diffused TSGCT with extra-articular invasion and TSGCT with intra-articular localization in the knee.

RESULTS

The study consisted of 20 patients with TSGCT. The mean SUVmax of TSGCT was 12.0 ± 6.50. There were five patients with TSGCT arising in the knee with extra-articular invasion and six with TSGCT with intra-articular localization. The mean SUVmax of TSGCT with extra-articular invasion and those with intra-articular localization were 14.3 ± 6.00 and 5.94 ± 3.89, respectively. TSGCT with extra-articular invasion had significantly higher SUVmax than TSGCT with intra-articular localization (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

TSGCT revealed high FDG uptake. Furthermore, SUVmax was higher in diffused TSGCT with extra-articular invasion than in intra-articular localized TSGCT; this may reflect its local aggressiveness.

FDG-PET/CT for Primary Staging and Detection of Recurrence of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer diagnosed in women worldwide. Accurate baseline staging is necessary to plan optimal breast cancer management. Early detection and staging of recurrence are also essential for optimal therapeutic management. Hybrid FDG-PET/CT imaging offers high sensitivity in detecting extra axillary lymph nodes and distant metastases. Although FDG-PET/CT has some limitations for low proliferative tumors, low-grade tumors and for well-differentiated luminal breast cancer, PET/CT is useful for the initial staging of breast cancer, regardless of tumor phenotype (luminal, triple negative, or HER2+) and of tumor grade. Although FDG-PET/CT performs better for invasive ductal carcinoma (invasive carcinoma of no specific subtype), it is also helpful for staging invasive lobular carcinomas. At initial staging, FDG-PET/CT becomes very useful for staging from clinical stage IIB (T2N1 or T3N0). FDG-PET/CT could be useful in patients with clinical stage IIA (T1N1 or T2N0), but there is not enough strong evidence to recommend routine use in this subgroup. For clinical stage I (T1N0) patients, FDG-PET/CT offers no added value. In patients with recurrent breast cancer, FDG-PET/CT is more effective than conventional imaging in detecting locoregional or distant recurrence, whether suspected by clinical examination, conventional imaging, or elevation of a tumor marker (CA 15.3 or CEA). PET/CT is effective even in the presence of normal tumor markers. PET/CT is also a powerful imaging modality for performing a whole-body workup of a known recurrence and for determining whether or not the recurrence is isolated.

Breast cancer: initial workup and staging with FDG PET/CT

Purpose

Precise staging is needed to plan optimal management in breast cancer. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography coupled with computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) offers high sensitivity in detecting extra axillary lymph nodes and distant metastases. This review aims to clarify in which groups of patients staging with FDG-PET/CT would be beneficial and should be offered. We also discuss how tumor biology and breast cancer subtypes should be taken into account when interpreting FDG-PET/CT scans.

Methods

We performed a comprehensive literature review and rigorous appraisal of research studies assessing indications for FDG-PET/CT in breast cancer. This assessment regarding breast cancer served as a basis for the recommendations set by a working group of the French Society of Nuclear Medicine, in collaboration with oncological societies, for developing good clinical practice recommendations on the use of FDG-PET/CT in oncology.

Results

FDG-PET/CT is useful for initial staging of breast cancer, independently of tumor phenotype (triple negative, luminal or HER2 +) and regardless of tumor grade. Considering histological subtype, FDG-PET/CT performs better for staging invasive ductal carcinoma, although it is also helpful for staging invasive lobular carcinomas. Based on the available data, FDG-PET/CT becomes useful for staging starting from clinical stage IIB. FDG-PET/CT is possibly useful in patients with clinical stage IIA (T1N1 or T2N0), but there is not enough strong data to recommend routine use in this subgroup. For clinical stage I (T1N0) patients, staging with FDG-PET/CT offers no added value.

Conclusion

FDG-PET/CT is useful for staging patients with breast cancer, starting from clinical stage IIB.

PET/CT in breast cancer staging is useful for evaluation of axillary lymph node and distant metastases

INTRODUCTION

Breast cancer outcome is dependent on disease stage. The aim of the study was to assess the role of PET/CT in the evaluation of axillary lymph node and distant metastases in women with newly diagnosed primary breast cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We assessed, among patients with newly diagnosed primary breast cancer, associations of [¹⁸F] fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake (maximum standardized uptake value [SUV_max]) with clinical variables of the primary tumor, including regional nodal status and the presence of distant metastases.

RESULTS

Of 324 patients, 265 (81.8%) had focal uptake of FDG that corresponded with the cancerous lesion, and 21 (6.5%) had no FDG-avid findings. The remaining 38 patients had diffuse or nonspecific uptake of FDG. Among patients with a focal uptake of FDG (n = 265), the mean tumor size was 2.6 ± 1.9 (range 0.5-13.5), and the mean SUV_max was 5.3 ± 4.9 (range 1.2-25.0). In 83 patients (25.6%), PET/CT demonstrated additional suspected foci in the same breast. FDG-avid lymphadenopathy was observed in 156 patients (48.1%). Further assessment of lymph node involvement was available for 55/156 patients (axillary lymph node dissection [n = 21]; core needle biopsy [n = 34]) and confirmed axillary lymph node metastases in 47 (85.5%)). Thirteen patients (4.0%) had FDG-avid supraclavicular lymph nodes and six (1.9%) had FDG-avid internal mammary lymph nodes. Distant FDG-avid lesions were detected in 33 patients (10.2%).

CONCLUSION

PET/CT is a useful diagnostic tool for staging breast cancer patients, but its use should be limited to specific clinical situations; further evaluation is needed.

Impact of 18F-FDG PET, PET/CT, and PET/MRI on Staging and Management as an Initial Staging Modality in Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the impact of 18F-FDG PET, PET/CT, and PET/MRI on staging and management during the initial staging of breast cancer.

METHODS

We searched the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and KoreaMed databases until March 2020 to identify studies that reported the proportion of breast cancer patients whose clinical stage or management were changed after PET scans. The proportion of changes was pooled using a random-effects model. Subgroup and metaregression analyses were performed to explore heterogeneity.

RESULTS

We included 29 studies (4276 patients). The pooled proportions of changes in stage and management were 25% (95% confidence interval [CI], 21%-30%) and 18% (95% CI, 14%-23%), respectively. When stage changes were stratified according to initial stage, the pooled proportions were 11% (95% CI, 3%-22%) in stage I, 20% (95% CI, 16%-24%) in stage II, and 34% (95% CI, 27%-42%) in stage III. The relative proportions of intermodality and intention-to-treat changes were 74% and 70%, respectively. Using metaregression analyses, the mean age and the proportion of initial stage III to IV and histologic grade II to III were significant factors affecting the heterogeneity in changes in stage or management.

CONCLUSIONS

Currently available literature suggests that the use of 18F-FDG PET, PET/CT, or PET/MRI leads to significant modification of staging and treatment in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. Therefore, there may be a role for routine clinical use of PET imaging for the initial staging of breast cancer.

Use of 18F-FDG PET/CT as an Initial Staging Procedure for Stage II-III Breast Cancer: A Multicenter Value Analysis

BACKGROUND

Metastatic staging imaging is not recommended for asymptomatic patients with stage I-II breast cancer. Greater distant metastatic disease risk may warrant baseline imaging in patients with stage II-III with high-risk biologic subtypes. NCCN Guidelines recommend considering CT of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis (CT CAP) and bone scan in appropriate patients. CT CAP and bone scan are considered standard of care (SoC), although PET/CT is a patient-centered alternative.

METHODS

Data were available for 799 high-risk patients with clinical stage II-III disease who initiated screening for the I-SPY2 trial at 4 institutions. A total of 564 complete records were reviewed to compare PET/CT versus SoC. Costs were determined from the payer perspective using the national 2018 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and representative reimbursements to the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) measured cost of using PET/CT per percent of patients who avoided a false-positive (FP).

RESULTS

The de novo metastatic disease rate was 4.6%. Imaging varied across the 4 institutions (P<.0001). The FP rate was higher using SoC versus PET/CT (22.1% vs 11.1%; P=.0009). Mean time between incidental finding on baseline imaging to FP determination was 10.8 days. Mean time from diagnosis to chemotherapy initiation was 44.3 days with SoC versus 37.5 days with PET/CT (P=.0001). Mean cost per patient was $1,132 (SoC) versus $1,477 (PET/CT) using the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, with an ICER of $31. Using representative reimbursements to UCSF, mean cost per patient was $1,236 (SoC) versus $1,073 (PET/CT) for Medicare, and $3,083 (SoC) versus $1,656 (PET/CT) for a private payer, with ICERs of -$15 and -$130, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Considerable variation exists in metastatic staging practices. PET/CT reduced FP risk by half and decreased workup of incidental findings, allowing for earlier treatment start. PET/CT may be cost-effective, and at one institution was shown to be cost-saving. Better alignment is needed between hospital pricing strategies and payer coverage policies to deliver high-value care.

Baseline staging imaging for distant metastasis in women with stages I, II, and III breast cancer

Background

In Ontario, there is no clearly defined standard of care for staging for distant metastasis in women with newly diagnosed and biopsy-confirmed breast cancer whose clinical presentation is suggestive of early-stage disease. This guideline addresses baseline imaging investigations for women with newly diagnosed primary breast cancer who are otherwise asymptomatic for distant metastasis.

Methods

The medline and embase databases were systematically searched for evidence from January 2000 to April 2019, and the best available evidence was used to draft recommendations relevant to the use of baseline imaging investigation in women with newly diagnosed primary breast cancer who are otherwise asymptomatic. Final approval of this practice guideline was obtained from both the Staging in Early Stage Breast Cancer Advisory Committee and the Report Approval Panel of the Program in Evidence-Based Care.

Recommendations

These recommendations apply to all women with newly diagnosed primary breast cancer (originating in the breast) who have no symptoms of distant metastasis Staging tests using conventional anatomic imaging [chest radiography, liver ultrasonography, chest-abdomen-pelvis computed tomography (ct)] or metabolic imaging modalities [integrated positron-emission tomography (pet)/ct, integrated pet/magnetic resonance imaging (mri), bone scintigraphy] should not be routinely ordered for women newly diagnosed with clinical stage i or stage ii breast cancer who have no symptoms of distant metastasis, regardless of biomarker status. In women newly diagnosed with stage iii breast cancer, baseline staging tests using either anatomic imaging (chest radiography, liver ultrasonography, chest-abdomen-pelvis ct) or metabolic imaging modalities (pet/ct, pet/mri, bone scintigraphy) should be considered regardless of whether the patient is symptomatic for distant metastasis and regardless of biomarker profile.

Role of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron-Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Scan in Primary Staging of Breast Cancer Compared to Conventional Staging

Aim:

In newly diagnosed carcinoma breast cancer patients, comparing conventional staging and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography–computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT) staging.

Materials and Methods:

This was a retrospective observational study. A total of 171 new diagnosed carcinoma breast patients who underwent staging ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT scan and routine conventional imaging including mammosonography of breast and axilla, chest X-ray, ultrasound sonography abdomen, and bone scan were included in the study. Staging was done according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging (tumor-node-metastasis). Changes in staging and management with ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT scan were assessed.

Results:

Overall PET/CT upstaged in 22.2% of cases and changed management in 15.78% of cases. PET/CT upstaged in three of eight cases in Stage IA patients but changed management in only one case. In Stage IIA, of 31 patients PET/CT upstaged in two patients (6.45%). In Stage IIB, of 45 patients PET/CT upstaged in six patients (13.3%). In Stage IIIA, of 22 patients PET/CT upstaged in six patients (27.2) and in five patients there is a change in management. In Stage IIIB, of 43 patients PET/CT upstaged in 21 patients (48.8%) with change in management in 13 patients (25.5%).

Conclusion:

¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT scan can be helpful in a significant number of patients with Stage IIB and above in upstaging and changing management.

Radiomics in Oncological PET/CT: Clinical Applications

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is widely used for staging, evaluating treatment response, and predicting prognosis in malignant diseases. FDG uptake and volumetric PET parameters such as metabolic tumor volume have been used and are still used as conventional PET parameters to assess biological characteristics of tumors. However, in recent years, additional features derived from PET images by computational processing have been found to reflect intratumoral heterogeneity, which is related to biological tumor features, and to provide additional predictive and prognostic information, which leads to the concept of radiomics. In this review, we focus on recent clinical studies of malignant diseases that investigated intratumoral heterogeneity on PET/CT, and we discuss its clinical role in various cancers.

Preoperative [18]fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography in early stage breast cancer: Rates of distant metastases

AIM

To investigate rates of distant metastases (DM) detected with [18]fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18FDG-PET/CT) in early stage invasive breast cancer.

METHODS

We searched the English language literature databases of PubMed, EMBASE, ISI Web of Knowledge, Web of Science and Google Scholar, for publications on DM detected in patients who had 18FDG-PET/CT scans as part of the staging for early stages of breast cancer (stage I and II), prior to or immediately following surgery. Reports published between 2011 and 2017 were considered. The systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines.

RESULTS

Among the 18 total studies included in the analysis, the risk of DM ranged from 0% to 8.3% and 0% to 12.9% for stage I and II invasive breast cancer, respectively. Among the patients with clinical stage II, the rate of occult metastases diagnosed by 18FDG-PET/CT was 7.2% (range, 0%-19.6%) for stage IIA and 15.8% (range, 0%-40.8%) for stage IIB. In young patients (< 40-year-old), 18FDG-PET/CT demonstrated a higher prevalence of DM at the time of diagnosis for those with aggressive histology (i.e., triple-negative receptors and poorly differentiated grade).

CONCLUSION

Young patients with poorly differentiated tumors and stage IIB triple-negative breast cancer may benefit from 18FDG-PET/CT at initial staging to detect occult DM prior to surgery.