Abstract
Standardized uptake value (SUV) is a marker of tumor glucose metabolism detected by [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT). The maximum SUV of the whole-body (BmSUVmax) reflects the tumor aggressiveness in non-Hodgkin lymphoma. To evaluate the correlation between SUVmax at biopsy site (BxSUVmax) and proliferation potential of tumor cells in untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), fifteen pre-therapy PET/CT scans in patients with histologically proven DLBCL were retrospectively analyzed together with Ki-67 proliferation index. The BmSUVmax and BxSUVmax were evaluated from the fused PET/CT images. Ki-67 proliferation index was measured in the biopsy specimens using an immunohistochemical technique in archival paraffin-embedded sections. The BmSUVmax was significantly higher than the BxSUVmax (mean 19.6 vs.16.6, p < 0.01). The BxSUVmax correlated with the Ki-67 proliferation index (r = 0.7, p < 0.01), but no correlation was detected between the BmSUVmax and the Ki-67 proliferation index. The results indicate that tumor proliferation potential might be predicted in vivo by FDG-PET/CT images. Thus, PET/CT is useful to guide biopsy by selecting sites with the BmSUVmax when clinically appropriate.
Acknowledgements
This study was supported by the Biomedical Image Quantification/University Alliance of Finland the Science Center of Pirkanmaa Hospital District, Tampere, Finland and the Elna Savolainen Fund. We would like to thank research nurse Emmi Vettenranta and research coordinator Irja Kolehmainen.
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