Nuklearmedizin 2009; 48(01): 01-09
DOI: 10.3413/nukmed-0194
3-phase fluorocholine PET in prostate cancer
Schattauer GmbH

Three-phase 18F-fluorocholine PET/CT in the evaluation of prostate cancer recurrence

3-Phasen-PET/CT mit 18F-Fluor cholin zur Evaluation des Prostatakrebsrezidivs
Ch. Steiner
1   Service of Nuclear Medicine; University Hospital of Geneva
,
H. Vees
2   Service of Radiation Oncology; University Hospital of Geneva
,
H. Zaidi
1   Service of Nuclear Medicine; University Hospital of Geneva
,
M. Wissmeyer
1   Service of Nuclear Medicine; University Hospital of Geneva
,
O. Berrebi
1   Service of Nuclear Medicine; University Hospital of Geneva
,
M. P. Kossovsky
3   Hospital Care System Research and Analysis Group; University Hospital of Geneva
,
H. G. Khan
4   Institute of Radiology Jean Violette, Geneva
,
R. Miralbell
2   Service of Radiation Oncology; University Hospital of Geneva
5   Instituto Oncológico Teknon, Barcelona, Spain
,
O. Ratib
1   Service of Nuclear Medicine; University Hospital of Geneva
,
F. Buchegger
1   Service of Nuclear Medicine; University Hospital of Geneva
6   Service of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Lausanne; Switzerland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 01 July 2008

accepted in revised form: 02 October 2008

Publication Date:
19 January 2018 (online)

Summary

Aim: Contribution of 3-phase 18F-fluorocholine PET/CT in suspected prostate cancer recurrence at early rise of PSA. Patients, methods: Retrospective analysis was performed in 47 patients after initial treatment with radiotherapy (n = 30) or surgery (n = 17). Following CT, 10 minutes list-mode PET acquisition was done over the prostate bed after injection of 300 MBq of 18F-fluorocholine. Three timeframes of 3 minutes each were reconstructed for analysis. All patients underwent subsequent whole body PET/CT. Delayed pelvic PET/CT was obtained in 36 patients. PET/CT was interpreted visually by two observers and SUVmax determined for suspicious lesions. Biopsies were obtained from 13 patients. Results: Biopsies confirmed the presence of cancer in 11 of 13 patients with positive PET for a total of 15 local recurrences in which average SUVmax increased during 14 minutes post injection and marginally decreased in delayed scanning. Conversely inguinal lymph nodes with mild to moderate metabolic activity on PET showed a clearly different pattern with decreasing SUVmax on dynamic images. Three-phase PET/CT contributed to the diagnostic assessment of 10 of 47 patients with biological evidence of recurrence of cancer. It notably allowed the discrimination of confounding blood pool or urinary activity from suspicious hyperactivities. PET/CT was positive in all patients with PSA ≥ 2 ng/ml (n = 34) and in 4/13 patients presenting PSA values <2 ng/ml. Conclusion: 18F-fluorocholine 3-phase PET/CT showed a progressively increasing SUVmax in biopsy confirmed cancer lesions up to 14 minutes post injection while decreasing in inguinal lymph nodes interpreted as benign. Furthermore, it was very useful in differentiating local recurrences from confounding blood pool and urinary activity.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel: Retrospektive Analyse der klinischen Wertigkeit einer 3-Phasen-Fluorcholin(FCH)-PET/CT bei 47 Patienten mit Verdacht auf frühes biochemisches Rezidiv eines Prostatakarzinoms. Patienten, Methoden: Die FCH-PET/CT wurde bei Patienten nach initialer Radiotherapie (n = 30) oder Chirurgie (n = 17) durchgeführt. Nach der CT wurden 300 MBq 18F-Fluorcholin appliziert und eine 10 Minuten dynamische PET in List-Mode-Technik über dem Prostatabett aufgenommen. Für die Analyse wurden hieraus drei statische Zeitabschnitte zu je 3 Minuten rekonstruiert. Anschließend erfolgte die Aufnahme der Ganzkörper-PET. Bei 36 Patienten wurde eine zusätzliche Spätaufnahme des Beckens aufgenommen. Die Analyse der PET/CT erfolgte visuell und anhand der SUVmax für verdächtige Befunde. Bei 13 Patienten mit positiver FCH PET/CT der Prostataloge wurden Biopsien analysiert. Ergebnisse: Histologisch bestätigt wurden 15 Lokalrezidive (4 bilateral) bei 11 von 13 FCHPET-positiven Patienten. In histologisch gesicherten Rezidiven stieg der SUVmax während der ersten 14 Minuten nach Injektion an und fiel anschließend leicht ab. Metabolisch aktive inguinale Lymphknoten zeigten im Gegensatz eine stetige Abnahme des SUVmax. Die Drei-Phasen-FCH-PET trug bei 10/47 Patienten entscheidend zur Diagnose bei, da sie die klare Abgrenzung von vaskulärer bzw. Harn-Aktivität gegenüber pathologischen Anreicherungen erlaubte. Bezüglich PSA war die FCH PET/CT bei allen Patienten ≥ 2ng/ml (n=34) positiv und bei 4/13 <2ng/ml. Schlussfolgerung: Die Drei-Phasen-FCH-PET/CT zeigte bei histologisch bestätigten Rezidiven einen initial zunehmenden SUVmax während in benignen inguinalen Lymphknoten ein stetiger Abfall zu verzeichnen war. Weiter erwies sie sich als sehr nützlich, um Lokalrezidive von vaskulärer bzw. Urinaktivität zu unterscheiden.

 
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