The Role of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in Evaluating the Efficacy of Radiofrequency Ablation in Metastatic and Primary Liver Tumors: Preliminary Results

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the role of 18 fluorine-fluorodeoxyglucose ( 18 F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for evaluating the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in primary and metastatic liver tumors compared with contrast-enhanced ultrasound examination (CEUS) and to find its place in overall staging and the follow-up diagnostic algorithm. Methods: PET/CT examinations were performed 2 months after RFA for 20 patients with a total of 34 liver lesions. CEUS was performed within 10 days after PET/CT, and the results were compared. Seven patients were staged with PET/CT and the others with a contrast-enhanced CT. Results: A total of 48 18 F-FDG PET/CT examinations were performed. We observed complete response in 8 patients (40%), 2 patients (10%) had stable disease, one (5%) had partial response, and 9 patients (45%) had progression (including 2 cases with extrahepatic involvement). Compared with CEUS, there was a mismatch in 3 cases. Five patients underwent additional RFA for 7 lesions. Conclusion: According to our preliminary data, PET/CT may be a valuable method, with comparable or eventually even better sensitivity than CEUS, for early evaluation of the efficacy of RFA for the treatment of metastatic and primary liver lesions and planning of future treatment. PET/CT might be recommended as a staging method before undergoing RFA of liver lesions for determining the local extent of the disease in the liver in combination with CEUS with an advantage in visualization of extrahepatic involvement. However, more patients need to be investigated in order to demonstrate and confirm the obtained results with certainty.

[Retracted] Application of Dynamic Contrast‐Enhanced MRI in the Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis

“…The score of bone marrow edema and bone erosion did not meet the normal distribution, which was described by median (P50) and interquartile interval (P25–P75); that is, the median score of bone marrow edema was 3.00 and the interquartile interval was 2.50 (range 0–3). The median bone erosion score was 1.00 and the interquartile interval was 3.00 (range 0–2) [ 16 , 17 ]. The consistency of MRI scores of the two doctors was 0.785, which had high consistency.…”

A Review of Imaging Methods to Assess Ultrasound-Mediated Ablation

“…Several studies have suggested 18 F-FDG PET immediately following ablation can accurately predict treatment efficacy [21,110], and PET imaging metrics correlate with local disease progression [111] and disease-free survival [112]. Conversely, preablation 18 F-FDG PET imaging has minimal correlation with local tumor progression and disease-free survival [113].…”