18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in patients with liver metastases from uveal melanoma: Results from a pilot study

Victoria Orcurto, Alban Denys, Verena Voelter, Ann Schalenbourg, Pierre Schnyder, Leonidas Zografos, Serge Leyvraz, Angelika Bischof Delaloye, John O. Prior*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    36 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Purpose: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and MRI are used for detecting liver metastases from uveal melanoma. The introduction of new treatment options in clinical trials might benefit from early response assessment. Here, we determine the value of FDG-PET/CT with respect to MRI at diagnosis and its potential for monitoring therapy. Material and methods: Ten patients with biopsy-proven liver metastases of uveal melanoma enrolled in a randomized phase III trial (NCT00110123) underwent both FDG-PET coupled with unenhanced CT and gadolinium-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced liver MRI within 4 weeks. FDG-PET and MRI were evaluated blindly and then compared using the ratio of lesion to normal liver parenchyma PET-derived standardized uptake value (SUV). The influence of lesion size and response to chemotherapy were studied. Results: Overall, 108 liver lesions were seen: 34 (31%) on both modalities (1-18 lesions/patient), four (4%) by PET/CT only, and 70 (65%) by MRI only. SUV correlated with MRI lesion size (r=0.81, P<0.0001). PET/CT detected 26 of 33 (79%) MRI lesions of more than or equal to 1.2 cm, whereas it detected only eight of 71 (11%) lesions of less than 1.2 cm (P<0.0001). MRI lesions without PET correspondence were small (0.6±0.2 vs. 2.1±1.1 cm, P<0.0001). During follow-up (six patients, 30 lesions), the ratio lesion-to-normal-liver SUV diminished in size-stable lesions (1.90±0.64-1.46±0.50, P<0.0001), whereas it increased in enlarging lesions (1.56±0.40-1.99±0.56, P=0.032). Conclusion: MRI outweighs PET/CT for detecting small liver metastases. However, PET/CT detected at least one liver metastasis per patient and changes in FDG uptake not related to size change, suggesting a role in assessing early therapy response.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)63-69
    Number of pages7
    JournalMelanoma Research
    Volume22
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Feb 2012

    Keywords

    • F-fluorodeoxyglucose
    • MRI
    • liver metastasis
    • positron emission tomography/computed tomography
    • uveal melanoma

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Oncology
    • Dermatology
    • Cancer Research

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