CC BY 4.0 · Indian Journal of Neurosurgery 2023; 12(02): 147-154
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1743398
Original Article

Effect of Whole-body [18F]Fluoro-2-deoxy-2-d-glucose Positron Emission Tomography in Patients with Suspected Brain Metastasis

1   Department of Nuclear Medicine, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
,
Neetu Soni
2   Department of Neuroradiology, University of Iowa Health and Clinic, Iowa, Iowa, United States
,
Aftab Hasan Nazar
1   Department of Nuclear Medicine, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
,
Anant Mehrotra
3   Department of Neurosurgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
,
Prabhakar Mishra
4   Department of Biostatistics, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
,
Sanjay Gambhir
1   Department of Nuclear Medicine, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
› Author Affiliations
 

Abstract

Background and Purpose [18F]Fluoro-2-deoxy-2-d-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has a promising role in the workup and management of carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP). We have evaluated the effect of whole-body FDG PET/CT in assessing the patients presented with suspected brain metastasis (CUP-BM) on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT).

Materials and Methods This retrospective study included FDG PET/CT of 50 patients (24 males, mean: 58 ± 12.2 years old) with a CUP-BM diagnosis based on MRI and CT imaging. The final diagnosis of primary brain neoplasm (BP) or brain metastases (BM) was based on FDG PET/CT findings and/or histopathology (HPE).

Results On FDG PET/CT, 52% (26/50) of patients did not have any systemic lesion apart from a brain lesion. Out of these, 50% (13/26) had HPE confirmation of primary brain neoplasm (BP). FDG PET/CT identified multiple systemic lesions apart from brain lesions in the remaining 48% (24/50) of patients. They were categorized as the brain metastases (BM) group. The primary lesions were located in the lungs (n = 20), kidneys (n = 1), prostate (n = 1), esophagus (n = 1), and tongue (n = 1).

Conclusion FDG PET/CT could suggest a diagnosis of BM based on the presence of systemic lesions. It also provides an easily accessible peripheral site for biopsy and systemic disease burden in a single scan. FDG PET/CT's up-front use in suspected CUP-BM on CT and/or MRI could differentiate the BM from BP in most cases and avoid brain biopsy in the BM group.


#

Introduction

Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) is a heterogeneous group of cancers, so-called when a biopsy unveils malignancy; however, the primary origin could not be established.[1] A provisional diagnosis of the CUP remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, and an accurate diagnosis may result in better survival.[2] The worldwide prevalence of proven CUP is ∼2 to 3% of all cancers diagnosed.[3] [4] The conventional diagnostic approach identifies a primary site in approximately one-third of the patients. However, the primary site remains unrevealed in a large number of patients, even on autopsy.[5] The overall prognosis of the patient is miserable. In a large study (18,911 patients) by Hemminki et al, dismal survival of 17% at 12 months and a median survival of 3 months was noted in extranodal cases.[6]

Out of all CUP patients presenting with suspected brain metastases (CUP-BM) on imaging poses a unique difficulty as the brain biopsy is not straightforward. CT and MRI remain the primary brain imaging modalities, and contrast-enhanced MRI is the standard for diagnosing BP and BM.[7] Advanced MRI techniques could distinguish BM from BP, lymphoma, and abscess. The best means of differentiation involves evaluating the peritumoral edema of the lesions. However, imaging is not able to reliably predict the histology of a BM.[8] The paramount aspect of management is distinguishing between primary brain neoplasm (BP) and brain metastases (BM). The European Association of Neuro-Oncology recommends a thorough physical examination, CT of the chest/abdomen, and mammography. If these are negative, FDG-PET/CT is suggested.[7]

FDG-PET/CT could evaluate the primary mass, loco-regional lymph nodes, and distant metastases in a single study. Due to the inherent advantage of metabolic imaging, PET is more sensitive than CT for identifying even nonenlarged pathologies.[9] The preponderance of FDG-PET/CT over diagnostic CT is documented in prospective trials.[10] [11] It has an undebatable role in CUPS, as shown by various meta-analyses.[12] [13] [14] However, only a few studies are available exploring FDG PET-CT's role in CUP-BM and have shown good diagnostic performance.[15] [16] [17] [18]

We hypothesize that excluding extracranial lesions in the patient with suspected BM will make a firm diagnosis of BP. Our study aimed to investigate whole-body FDG PET/CT's role in differentiating BM and BP based on the brain lesion and extracranial findings.


#

Materials and Methods

Patient Population

We did a retrospective analysis of the patient who underwent FDG PET/CT between Jan 2017 to Dec 2019. Out of 78 patients, based on the exclusion criteria, 28 were excluded. A total of 50 patients were included in the final analysis ([Fig. 1]). The neurosurgery or neurology departments referred patients for a routine assessment of the brain lesions.

Zoom Image
Fig. 1 Figure showing recruitment of the patients in the study.

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Patients Recruitment

All the patients who presented with suspected BM on contrast-enhanced CT or MRI (CECT/CEMRI) of the brain were included in the study. The time interval between brain CECT/CEMRI and FDG PET/CT was less than 1 month.


#

Inclusion Criteria

  • All patients with suspected BM (based on CT/MRI) were included in the study.


#

Exclusion Criteria

  • Patients with a suspicious or proven extracranial primary malignancy from previous imaging or investigations.

  • A patient who has a history of previous malignancy (treated or untreated).

  • Suspicion of a benign systemic disease is a possible explanation for brain lesions such as tuberculosis.

It was a retrospective study on anonymized data, and all investigations and procedures were done as part of the standard of care. The ethical committee's permission was not required.


#

FDG PET-CT Imaging

All patients underwent FDG PET/CT scans according to a standard protocol. Patient preparation, image acquisition, image reconstruction, and processing were made per recommendations.[19] After fasting for at least 6 hours, a measurement of blood sugar was done. The patients were instructed to stay in a warm, quiet, dark room lacking distractions and asked to keep their movements minimum before the study and following radioisotope injection. Intravenous injection of FDG was done (dose ∼100 microcuries per kg body weight) followed by a saline flush in all patients with fasting blood sugar levels < 180 mg/dL. At 60 to 90 minutes, acquisitions were made by an integrated PET/CT scanner (Biograph™ scanners, Siemens Healthineers). Patients underwent a CECT from the skull base to mid-thigh with a 70 to 140 kVp and tube current of 80 mA, followed by PET acquisition for 2 minutes per bed position. We took a separate PET-CECT brain image 5 minutes per bed in all patients. PET data were reconstructed using a three-dimensional (3D)-ordered subset expectation-maximization algorithm (two iterations, 21 subsets, Gaussian filter 2.0 mm, matrix size 400 × 400, and slice thickness 2.0 mm).


#

Image Interpretation

Two experienced nuclear medicine physicians interpreted the FDG PET/CECT images (SG and MO, 15 and 11 year experience, respectively). Discrepant interpretations between readers were resolved by consensus after simultaneous review and discussion. FDG uptake by normal and pathologic tissues was evaluated visually and semiquantitatively using the maximum standardized uptake (SUVmax) values for each lesion. All lesions with SUVmax ≥ 3.0 were considered significant. We evaluated corresponding CECT images to confirm the lesion and rule out physiological uptake. The overall PET/CECT interpretation defined the brain lesions as BP or BM.

Diagnosis of BP was based on no extracranial disease. All the patients with the substantial extracranial disease burden were categorized as BM. We evaluated the extracranial primary mass, loco-regional lymph nodes, and metastases in BM patients. SUVmax of brain lesions, perilesional edema, and contralateral normal-appearing brain parenchyma were measured.


#

Data Analysis and Reference Standard

The patients underwent additional diagnostic tests based on the PET/CT (ultrasonography, tumor markers, or biopsy, etc.) to confirm the primary malignancy. Biopsy of the accessible extracranial lesion in the BM group or brain lesion in the BP group was done.

The reference standard was based on:

  • HPE of the extracranial or brain lesion.

  • The overall appearance of the PET/CECT (e.g., a patient with a lung mass, mediastinal lymph nodes, and multiple skeletal lesions was considered as having lung carcinoma. This patient was referred to as BM group)


#

Statistical Analysis

The normality of the continuous data was tested using the Shapiro–Wilk test. Continuous variables are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Categorical variables are expressed as frequency and percentages (%). Confidence intervals (CI) are ± 95%. Independent samples t-test was used to compare the means between the two groups. The chi-square test was used to compare the proportions between the groups. The expected frequency count was at least 5; otherwise, Fisher's exact test was used. SUVmax of brain lesions, perilesional edema, contralateral brain parenchyma, and their ratios were compared in the BM and BP groups. A p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Data were analyzed using a statistical package for social sciences, version 23 (SPSS-23, IBM, Chicago, USA).


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#

Results

Demography

The study included 50 patients (M:F, 24:26; mean age, 58 ± 12.2 years). Twenty (40%) patients had solitary brain lesions. Demographic and clinical profiles are shown in [Table 1].

Table 1

Distribution of demographic and clinical variables between tumor location

Variables

Brain primary (n = 26)

Brain metastasis (n = 24)

Total (N = 50)

p-Value

Sex (male)[b]

12 (46.2)

12 (50)

24 (48)

0.786

Lymph nodes

Cervical[b]

1 (3.8)

8 (33.3)

9 (18)

0.009

Mediastinal[b]

2 (7.7)

20 (83.3)

22 (44)

<0.001

#Abdominal

1 (3.8)

6 (25)

7 (14)

0.045

#Pelvic[a]

 0 (0)

 2 (8.3)

 2 (4)

0.225

Number of brain lesions (single/multiple)[b]

 14 (53.8)/12 (46.2)

 6 (25)/18 (75)

 20 (40)/30 (60)

0.038

Lung lesions[b]

 0 (0)

 22 (91.6)

 22 (44)

<0.001

Liver lesions[a]

 0 (0)

 7 (29.2)

 7 (14)

0.003

Skeletal Lesions[b]

 0 (0)

 11 (45.8)

 11 (22)

<0.001

Pleural effusion[a]

 0 (0)

 2 (8.3)

 2 (4)

0.225

Adrenal lesion[b]

 0 (0)

 10 (41.6)

 10 (41.6)

<0.001

a Fisher exact test used.


b Pearson chi-square test.


Notes: Bold values indicate p < 0.05 is significant.


The table shows the mean distribution of the clinical values between brain primary and brain metastasis. All parentheses are percentages.



#

FDG PET-CECT Findings

Metabolic activity (SUVmax > 3) was noted in 44 (88%) of the brain lesions. The SUVmax values of the brain lesions and peripheral edematous regions were 11.20 ± 17.26 (Q1–4, Q3–14.62) and 3.61 ± 1.81(Q1–2.07, Q3–5.0), respectively. In 26 patients (54%), no significant extracranial lesions were noted on FDG PET-CECT. Based on the imaging, a possible diagnosis of BP was considered ([Fig. 1]).

Twenty-four (48%) patients had significant FDG avid extracranial disease burden and were categorized as BM ([Figs. 2] and [3]). The most common extracranial finding was lung lesions, as noted in 22 patients (44%). Out of these, 20 (40%) had mass lesions, while the other 2 had discrete lung nodules. Other common sites of involvement were bones (11, 22%), adrenal (10, 20%), and liver (7, 14%) ([Table 1]). Based on the overall imaging appearance, lung masses were considered as BM with primary lung carcinoma. In four patients, the primary extracranial malignancy was suggested in the kidneys, prostate, esophagus, and tongue. The involvement of lymph nodes, lungs, hepatic, skeletal, and adrenal lesions was statistically significant in the BM group ([Table 1]). Out of the 20 patients with a solitary brain lesion, 6 (30%) had lung masses and were diagnosed with BM. In the rest of the 30 patients with multiple brain lesions, 12 (36%) had no extracranial lesions and were considered BP ([Fig. 4]).

Zoom Image
Fig. 2 A 50-year female patient presented with a headache and left hemiparesis for 15 days. MRI brain (not shown) was suggestive of multiple brain lesions with perilesional edema. (A) Whole-body FDG PET/CT MIP reveals intensely FDG avid (SUVmax 32) wall thickening involving the lower esophagus (yellow arrow). Few focal areas of uptake are noted lower to it (red arrow), likely lymph nodes (BD) axial, coronal, and sagittal images of the brain show multiple lesions. (E) Coronal and (F) axial images show esophageal lesions along with gastrohepatic lymph nodes. Biopsy from the lower esophagus was suggestive of adenocarcinoma.
Zoom Image
Fig. 3 A 48-year-old lady presented with a headache for 1 month. MRI (not shown) suggested a solitary mass lesion in the right frontal lobe with significant perilesional edema and mass effect. (A) MIP FDG PET/CT shows lesions in the right frontal lobe (black arrow), a lesion in the upper lobe of the right lung (red arrow) with multiple enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes (blue arrow), and right adrenal (yellow arrow). (B and D): CT and fused PET/CT images show well-defined solitary mass lesions in the right frontal lobe. (C and E) Coronal CT and fused PET/CT show a mass in the lungs, multiple mediastinal lymph nodes, and a right adrenal lesion.
Zoom Image
Fig. 4 (A) 58-year-old man presented with a headache for 2 months. MRI (not shown) was suggestive of enhancing lesion in the corpus callous with mild perilesional edema. FDG PET/CT MIP shows a focal area of mild uptake in the mediastinum and right chest wall. Faintly FDG avid (SUVmax 2.8) mediastinal lymph nodes are noted with foci of calcification, likely inflammatory. Focal uptake areas are noted in the multiple ribs anteriorly with callus formation (not shown), suggestive of recent trauma. (BD) CT and fused PET CT brain in axial and coronal planes show FDG avid (SUVmax 14) lesion in the corpus callosum's splenium and adjacent right occipital lobe. Biopsy from the brain lesion was suggestive of GBM.

#

Histopathology

Twenty-nine (58%) patients underwent a biopsy for further evaluation. Out of 26 patients in the BP group, 13 (26%) underwent surgical excision and biopsy of the brain lesion. In the BM group, the extracranial site's biopsy was available in 16 (32%) patients. One patient in the BM group had a prostatic lesion on the PET/CECT and raised serum PSA level (>100 ng/mL); a provisional diagnosis of the carcinoma prostate was suggested. The rest of the patients denied further management or were lost to follow-up.

Final HPE was available for 29 patients ([Table 2]). The most common HPE was squamous cell carcinoma (10), followed by adenocarcinoma (6), and glioma (7). One patient who had brain lesions and peripheral lymphadenopathy underwent axillary lymph node biopsy. HPE was suggestive of tuberculosis. Few patients (4, 8%)) in the BM group had metabolically active peripheral lymphadenopathy. It was considered inflammatory based on the scan's overall appearance (size, fatty hilum, enhancement, etc.)

Table 2

Histopathology of suspected brain primary patients who underwent excision of the mass or biopsy

Group

Histopathology

No. of patients (%)

Brain primary (n = 26)

Glioblastoma multiforme

5 (10)

Glioma grade III

2 (4)

Atypical meningiomas

3 (6)

Liponeurocytoma

1(2)

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

2 (4)

Brain metastases (n = 24)

Squamous cell carcinoma

10 (20)

Adenocarcinoma

6 (12)


#

Role of SUVmax

We could not differentiate between BP and BM based on the SUVmax of the brain lesion (10.52 ± 8.08 and 11.95 ± 6.36) or perilesional edema (3.47 ± 1.67 and 3.78 ± 1.98). There was no significant difference between SUVmax (p = 0.492) and their ratios in BM and BP groups ([Table 3]). Multiple brain lesions were commoner in the BM group.

Table 3

Descriptive statistics of the demographic and clinical variables

 Final Diagnosis

 Mean

 Standard deviation

 p-Value

SUVmax brain lesion

 Brain primary

10.52

8.08

 0.492

 Brain metastasis

11.95

6.36

SUVmax brain opposite lobe

 Brain primary

5.77

2.81

 0.263

 Brain metastasis

6.63

2.59

SUVmax perilesional

 Brain primary

3.47

1.67

 0.557

 Brain metastasis

3.78

1.98

SUVmax ratio (lesion/perilesional)

 Brain primary

3.44

3.36

 0.557

 Brain metastasis

2.99

1.30

SUVmax ratio (lesion/opposite lobe)

 Brain primary

2.04

1.66

 0.640

 Brain metastasis

1.86

0.87

Table Showing the distribution of standard uptake values (SUVmax) between brain primary neoplasm and brain metastasis.


Note: Independent samples t-test used, p < 0.05 significant.



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#

Discussion

We evaluated FDG PET-CT's role in 50 patients with suspected CUPS-BM. In 24 (48%) patients, significant FDG avid extracranial disease was noted, and the brain lesion was categorized as BM. The most common findings were lung masses (20, 40%) followed by bones (11, 22%), adrenal (10, 20%), and liver (7, 14%) involvement. In the remaining 26 patients, no significant extracranial disease was found, and the patients were categorized as BP. Half of them underwent biopsy, and all were brain primaries.

BM often occurs in advanced malignancies but may also present as CUPS. Indeed, they are the most common intracranial tumors and occur up to 3–to 10 times more frequently than BP.[20] The most common primary sites in CUP-BM are lungs (40–50% of all BM), followed by breasts (15–20%), melanoma (5–20%), and renal (5–10%) and gastrointestinal tract (5%).[21] A combined chest-CT and MRI-brain could identify a biopsy site in most patients (97%).[22] However, it will require further evaluation to stage the disease burden.

Only a few studies are available exploring the role of PET-CT in CUPS-BM and have shown good diagnostic performance in this specific group.[15] [16] [17] [18] It could differentiate BM from a BP, and it also helps in the localization of the primary in BM.[15] [16] In a study including 77 patients with BM, primary lesions were detected in 61 patients by PET-CT. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy for the primary detection were 79.2%, 94.0%, 95.3%, 74.6%, and 85.0%, respectively.[16] A recent study has shown a higher detection rate (∼77%).[17] In our study, we also found similar detection rates. We did all PET/CT studies with intravenous contrast. It could be another reason for higher detection rates.

Koç ZP et al compared the FDG-PET/CT with chest/abdomen CT in CUPS-BM. The authors found that PET/CT disclose more metastases in 14 of 64 patients (22%) and upstaging disease.[17] Another recent study demonstrated that PET/CT identified additional extracranial metastases and shifted the graded prognostic assessment score from 3 with CT alone to 2.5 for PET/CT.[18] Another remarkable finding from our study is that all patients diagnosed with BP and who underwent brain biopsy were found to have HPE of BP only. The absence of significant extracranial disease in PET/CT reduces the possibility of futile biopsy for BM. Our study could not differentiate BM and BP based on metabolic findings. It has been shown that there is no significant difference in SUVmax between these.[23]

There are a few limitations of the study. It was a retrospective, single-center study, and biopsy was not available in all patients. Many of the patients were lost to follow-up. However, on scanning, the diagnosis of BP and BM was quite convincing. The remote possibility of other inflammatory pathologies could not be ruled out. PET is expensive than CT, and additional costs may emerge because of a workup for new lesions detected by PET. A further prospective study is necessitated to evaluate PET/CT's impact on patient management change, the cost of treatment, adding comfort to the patient, and decreasing the time to the final diagnosis.


#

Conclusion

FDG PET/CT could identify the extracranial primary and metastatic disease burden in nearly half of the patients suspected of brain metastases. The absence of extracranial disease in the patient presented with suspected brain metastases favors BP. PET/CT recognizes extracranial potential biopsy sites, evades unnecessary brain biopsy, and provides comprehensive information about staging and prognosis. Brain biopsy yield could be more beneficial in the “brain primary” group of patients with less futile metastatic disease results.


#
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Conflict of Interest

None declared.

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank all the participants of the study.

Availability of Data and Material (Data Transparency)

Data are partially available after a request from the corresponding author. It contains patient no. identification.


Ethical Approval Statement

It was a retrospective study on anonymized data, and all investigations and procedures were done as part of the standard of care. The ethical committee's permission was not required.


Authors' Contribution

M.O. and S.G. contributed to the concept and design of the study. A.H.N., P.M., and A.M. did data collection, data, and statistical analysis. M.O., N.S. wrote the first draft. A.H.N., N.S., A.M., did manuscript preparation and figure preparation. M.O., N.S. and S.G. finalized manuscript.


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  • 2 Haas I, Hoffmann TK, Engers R, Ganzer U. Diagnostic strategies in cervical carcinoma of an unknown primary (CUP). Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2002; 259 (06) 325-333
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Address for correspondence

Manish Ora, MD
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences
Lucknow 226014, Uttar Pradesh
India   

Publication History

Article published online:
16 May 2022

© 2022. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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  • References

  • 1 Burglin SA, Hess S, Høilund-Carlsen PF, Gerke O. 18F-FDG PET/CT for detection of the primary tumor in adults with extracervical metastases from cancer of unknown primary: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2017; 96 (16) e6713
  • 2 Haas I, Hoffmann TK, Engers R, Ganzer U. Diagnostic strategies in cervical carcinoma of an unknown primary (CUP). Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2002; 259 (06) 325-333
  • 3 American Cancer Society | Information and Resources about for Cancer: Breast, Colon, Lung, Prostate, Skin. Accessed November 23, 2020. Available at: https://www.cancer.org
  • 4 NORDCAN. Accessed November 23, 2020. Available at: https://www-dep.iarc.fr/nordcan/english/frame.asp
  • 5 Le Chevalier T, Cvitkovic E, Caille P. et al. Early metastatic cancer of unknown primary origin at presentation. A clinical study of 302 consecutive autopsied patients. Arch Intern Med 1988; 148 (09) 2035-2039
  • 6 Hemminki K, Bevier M, Hemminki A, Sundquist J. Survival in cancer of unknown primary site: population-based analysis by site and histology. Ann Oncol 2012; 23 (07) 1854-1863
  • 7 Soffietti R, Abacioglu U, Baumert B. et al. Diagnosis and treatment of brain metastases from solid tumors: guidelines from the European Association of Neuro-Oncology (EANO). Neuro-oncol 2017; 19 (02) 162-174
  • 8 Sperduto PW, Berkey B, Gaspar LE, Mehta M, Curran W. A new prognostic index and comparison to three other indices for patients with brain metastases: an analysis of 1,960 patients in the RTOG database. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2008; 70 (02) 510-514
  • 9 Gould MK, Kuschner WG, Rydzak CE. et al. Test performance of positron emission tomography and computed tomography for mediastinal staging in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med 2003; 139 (11) 879-892
  • 10 Reinhardt MJ, Joe AY, Jaeger U. et al. Diagnostic performance of whole body dual modality 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging for N- and M-staging of malignant melanoma: experience with 250 consecutive patients. J Clin Oncol 2006; 24 (07) 1178-1187
  • 11 Fischer B, Lassen U, Mortensen J. et al. Preoperative staging of lung cancer with combined PET-CT. N Engl J Med 2009; 361 (01) 32-39
  • 12 Moller AKH, Loft A, Berthelsen AK. et al. 18F-FDG PET/CT as a diagnostic tool in patients with extracervical carcinoma of unknown primary site: a literature review. Oncologist 2011; 16 (04) 445-451
  • 13 Kwee TC, Kwee RM. Combined FDG-PET/CT for the detection of unknown primary tumors: systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Radiol 2009; 19 (03) 731-744
  • 14 Dong MJ, Zhao K, Lin XT, Zhao J, Ruan LX, Liu ZF. Role of fluorodeoxyglucose-PET versus fluorodeoxyglucose-PET/computed tomography in detection of unknown primary tumor: a meta-analysis of the literature. Nucl Med Commun 2008; 29 (09) 791-802
  • 15 Klee B, Law I, Højgaard L, Kosteljanetz M. Detection of unknown primary tumours in patients with cerebral metastases using whole-body 18F-flouorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. Eur J Neurol 2002; 9 (06) 657-662
  • 16 Jeong H-J, Chung J-K, Kim YK. et al. Usefulness of whole-body (18)F-FDG PET in patients with suspected metastatic brain tumors. J Nucl Med 2002; 43 (11) 1432-1437
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Fig. 1 Figure showing recruitment of the patients in the study.
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Fig. 2 A 50-year female patient presented with a headache and left hemiparesis for 15 days. MRI brain (not shown) was suggestive of multiple brain lesions with perilesional edema. (A) Whole-body FDG PET/CT MIP reveals intensely FDG avid (SUVmax 32) wall thickening involving the lower esophagus (yellow arrow). Few focal areas of uptake are noted lower to it (red arrow), likely lymph nodes (BD) axial, coronal, and sagittal images of the brain show multiple lesions. (E) Coronal and (F) axial images show esophageal lesions along with gastrohepatic lymph nodes. Biopsy from the lower esophagus was suggestive of adenocarcinoma.
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Fig. 3 A 48-year-old lady presented with a headache for 1 month. MRI (not shown) suggested a solitary mass lesion in the right frontal lobe with significant perilesional edema and mass effect. (A) MIP FDG PET/CT shows lesions in the right frontal lobe (black arrow), a lesion in the upper lobe of the right lung (red arrow) with multiple enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes (blue arrow), and right adrenal (yellow arrow). (B and D): CT and fused PET/CT images show well-defined solitary mass lesions in the right frontal lobe. (C and E) Coronal CT and fused PET/CT show a mass in the lungs, multiple mediastinal lymph nodes, and a right adrenal lesion.
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Fig. 4 (A) 58-year-old man presented with a headache for 2 months. MRI (not shown) was suggestive of enhancing lesion in the corpus callous with mild perilesional edema. FDG PET/CT MIP shows a focal area of mild uptake in the mediastinum and right chest wall. Faintly FDG avid (SUVmax 2.8) mediastinal lymph nodes are noted with foci of calcification, likely inflammatory. Focal uptake areas are noted in the multiple ribs anteriorly with callus formation (not shown), suggestive of recent trauma. (BD) CT and fused PET CT brain in axial and coronal planes show FDG avid (SUVmax 14) lesion in the corpus callosum's splenium and adjacent right occipital lobe. Biopsy from the brain lesion was suggestive of GBM.