Positron emission tomography (PET) with [18F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) may show negative results for bronchioloalveolar lung carcinoma. We investigated the correlation of Glut-1 glucose transporter expression with [18F]FDG uptake in non-small cell lung cancer. Thirty-two patients with 34 non-small cell lung cancers (7 bronchioloalveolar carcinomas, 23 non-bronchioloalveolar adenocarcinomas, 3 squamous cell carcinomas, and 1 adenosquamous cell carcinoma) were studied. Final diagnoses were established by histology (via thoracotomy) in all patients. [18F]FDG PET was performed 40 min after i.v. injection of 185 MBq [18F]FDG. For semi-quantitative analysis of [18F]FDG uptake, standardized uptake values (SUVs) were calculated. Glut-1 expression was studied in terms of the immunohistochemistry of paraffin sections using anti-Glut-1 antibody to determine the intensity (0-3) of Glut-1 immunoreactivity and percentage of the Glut-1-positive area. Of seven bronchioloalveolar carcinomas, six (85.7%) were negative for the expression of Glut-1, while only one (4.3%) of 23 non-bronchioloalveolar adenocarcinomas was negative (P < 0.0001). The percentages of Glut-1-positive area, as well as the SUVs, were significantly lower in bronchioloalveolar carcinomas (n = 7) (2.86% +/- 7.56% and 1.25 +/- 0.75, respectively) than in non-bronchioloalveolar adenocarcinomas (n = 23) (54.83% +/- 25.64%, P < 0.0001, and 3.94 +/- 1.93, P = 0.001, respectively). The degree of cell differentiation correlated with the percentage of Glut-1-positive area and SUVs in adenocarcinoma of the lung. Correlations between SUVs and the intensity of Glut-1 immunoreactivity were also significant (intensities 0 and 1, n = 11, SUV 1.47 +/- 0.63; intensities 2 and 3, n=23, SUV 4.78 +/- 2.13; P < 0.0001). The percentage of Glut-1-positive area correlated significantly with SUVs (n = 34, r = 0.658, P < 0.01). Overexpression of Glut-1 correlated with high [18F]FDG uptake. These findings suggest that Glut-1 expression is related to [18F]FDG uptake in non-small cell lung cancer. Glut-1 expression, as well as [18F]FDG uptake, correlated with the degree of cell differentiation in adenocarcinomas, and both Glut-1 expression and [18F]FDG uptake were significantly lower in bronchioloalveolar carcinomas than in non-bronchioloalveolar carcinomas.

No abstract

2-[Fluorine-18]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) uptake within the primary lesion correlates with survival on positron emission tomography (PET) studies of patients with non-small cell lung cancer. The more metabolically active the tumour, the worse the outcome. The aim of this study was to determine whether a correlation exists between aggressiveness as determined by pathology and the findings of FDG PET in pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Thirty-five patients with 38 adenocarcinomas of the lung were studied. All patients underwent thoracotomy within 4 weeks of the FDG PET study. For semiquantitative analysis, standardized uptake values (SUVs) were calculated. Patients were classified into high SUV (> or = 4.0) and low SUV (<4.0) groups. The degree of FDG uptake (SUVs) in primary lung lesions was correlated with the histopathological features of aggressiveness (pleural involvement, vascular invasion or lymphatic permeation). The mean SUV of aggressive adenocarcinomas (4.36+/-1.94, n = 22) was higher than that of non-aggressive ones (1.53+/-0.88, n = 16) (P < 0.0001). Tumours with a high FDG uptake have a significantly higher likelihood of aggressiveness than those with a low FDG uptake (P = 0.0004). Analysis by the Kaplan-Meier methods revealed that the groups had different prognoses (log-rank test, P = 0.0099). The high SUV group had a significantly worse prognosis. In conclusion, a correlation was seen between aggressiveness as determined by pathology and glucose metabolism as measured by FDG PET in adenocarcinoma of the lung. FDG PET may be used as a non-invasive diagnostic technique in measuring aggressiveness and prognosis in patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

To evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound (US)-guided automated core biopsy of thyroid nodules, 74 biopsies were performed in 61 consecutive patients with an 18-gauge short-throw (1.1-cm excursion) biopsy gun. Results were correlated with diagnoses made at surgery (n = 38) or at sonographic follow-up of at least 6 months (n = 36). Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of diagnoses made with automated core biopsy were 84%, 95%, and 91%, respectively. US-guided biopsy with an automated biopsy gun allowed accurate assessment of thyroid nodules.

No abstract