Role of 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT in the Initial Staging of Esophageal Cancer

Abstract

Aim To investigate the clinical value of 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT for initial staging of esophageal cancer.

Methods A total of 44 newly diagnosed patients with esophageal cancer were included in the analysis on the basis of postoperative pathology or clinical and radiologic follow-up.

Results All primary lesions showed increased 68Ga-FAPI-04 uptake, with an SUVmax of 14.92 ± 6.91. A total of 561 lymph nodes were verified by surgery (507) or clinical and radiologic follow-up (54), of which 92 lymph nodes were diagnosed as showing metastases. Seventy-five lymph nodes with metastases showed positive findings on 68Ga-FAPI-04, with a diameter of about 1.06 ± 0.53 cm and SUVmax of 8.10±4.71. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for lymph node metastasis detection were 81.5%, 99.3%, 96.6%, 96.2%, and 96.5%, respectively.

Conclusion 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT showed good diagnostic performance in detecting lymph node metastases of esophageal cancer.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel Untersuchung des klinischen Werts von 68Ga-FAPI-04-PET/CT für das initiale Staging von Speiseröhrenkrebs.

Methoden Insgesamt 44 neu diagnostizierte Patienten mit Speiseröhrenkrebs wurden in die Analyse nach postoperativer Pathologie oder klinischer und radiologischer Nachsorge eingeschlossen.

Ergebnisse Alle primären Läsionen zeigten eine erhöhte 68Ga-FAPI-04-Aufnahme mit einem SUVmax von 14,92 ± 6,91. Die Sensitivität, Spezifität, Genauigkeit, PPV und NPV für den Nachweis von Lymphknotenmetastasen betrugen 81,5 %, 99,3 %, 96,6 %, 96,2 % bzw. 96,5 %.

Schlussfolgerung 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT zeigte eine gute diagnostische Leistung beim Nachweis von Lymphknotenmetastasen von Speiseröhrenkrebs.

Keywords

68Ga-FAPI-04 - PET/CT - esophageal carcinoma - lymph node metastasis - initial staging

Publication History

Received: 14 July 2022

Accepted after revision: 21 November 2022

Article published online:
06 February 2023

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