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S D Yeh

Publications and source records attributed to S D Yeh.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A trend analysis of the relative value of blue dye and isotope localization in 2,000 consecutive cases of sentinel node biopsy for breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Among the advocates of blue dye, isotope, or combined dye-isotope mapping of the sentinel lymph node (SLN) for breast cancer, there is no universal consensus as to which technique is optimal and whether the relative value of each method changes with increasing experience. The objective of this study was to examine the relative contributions of blue dye and radioisotope to successful identification of the SLN as the SLN-mapping technique evolved over our first 2,000 consecutive cases. STUDY DESIGN: Using the first 2,000 consecutive SLN biopsy procedures for breast cancer, performed by eight surgeons (none previously experienced in SLN techniques) at one institution, using a combined technique of blue dye and isotope mapping, we report the institutional learning curve and the relative contributions of dye and isotope to identifying both the SLN and the positive SLN, by increments of 500 cases. RESULTS: Comparing the first 500 with the most recent 500 cases, success in identifying the SLN by blue dye did not improve with experience, although success in isotope localization steadily increased, from 86% to 94% (p < 0.00005). With the increasing success of isotope mapping, the marginal benefit of blue dye (the proportion of cases in which the SLN was identified by blue dye alone) steadily declined, from 9% to 3% (p = 0.0001). Parallel to this trend, the proportion of positive SLNs identified by blue dye did not change with experience (89% to 90%), but isotope success steadily increased, from 88% to 98% (p = 0.0015). The proportion of positive SLNs identified by blue dye alone declined from 12% to 2% (p = 0.0015). CONCLUSIONS: Using a combined technique of blue dye and radioisotope mapping, and with refinement of the radioisotope technique, we report 97% success identifying the SLN. Although we continue to recommend the use of both methods in SLN mapping for breast cancer, we observe with experience a declining marginal benefit for blue dye.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Intradermal isotope injection is superior to intramammary in sentinel node biopsy for breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The optimal sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy technique remains undefined in breast cancer. Injecting radiotracer or blue dye by a variety of routes seems to stage the axilla with comparable accuracy, and we have hypothesized that the dermal and the parenchymal lymphatics of the breast drain to the same SLN in most patients. Two previous studies from our institution support this concept: (1) a single-surgeon series of 200 consecutive SLN biopsy procedures demonstrating a high dye-isotope concordance for both intradermal (ID) and intraparenchymal (IP) isotope injection, and (2) a series of 100 procedures validated by a backup axillary dissection (ALND) in which the false-negative rate following ID isotope injection was comparable to that of our previous results with IP injection. Here, we directly compare the results of SLN biopsy using either ID or IP isotope injection for our entire experience of SLN biopsy procedures in which a backup ALND was done. METHODS: This is a retrospective, nonrandomized study of 298 clinical stage I to II breast cancer patients having SLN biopsy with a backup ALND planned in advance, comparing the results of ID (n = 164) and IP (n = 134) isotope injection. All patients had IP injection of blue dye. Endpoints included (1) successful SLN identification, (2) false-negative rate, (3) dye-isotope concordance, and (4) the SLN/axillary background isotope count ratio. RESULTS: ID isotope was more successful than IP, identifying the SLN in 98% versus 89% of cases, respectively. False-negative results (4.8% vs 4.4%) and dye-isotope concordance (92% vs 93%) were comparable between the 2 groups, and SLN/axillary background isotope count ratios were significantly higher with ID than with IP injection (288/1 vs 59/1). CONCLUSIONS: ID isotope injection identifies the SLN more often than IP, stages the axilla with comparable accuracy, and is associated with higher levels of SLN isotope uptake. The dermal and parenchymal lymphatics of the breast drain to the same axillary SLN in most breast cancer patients, and ID isotope injection is the procedure of choice in this setting.

Adult↗

Lymphoscintigraphy and sentinel node localization in breast cancer patients: a comparison between 1-day and 2-day protocols.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to compare the results of isotope injection the morning of surgery (1-d protocol) with isotope injection the day before surgery (2-d protocol) in patients having sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy for breast cancer. METHODS: The 1-d (protocol 1) and 2-d (protocol 2) protocols included 514 and 152 patients, respectively, treated contemporaneously by surgeons experienced with the SLN biopsy technique. All had preoperative lymphoscintigraphy (LSG) and SLN biopsy using both blue dye and (99m)Tc-sulfur colloid. All patients had a single-site intradermal injection of unfiltered (99m)Tc-sulfur colloid in 0.05 mL normal saline: 3.7 MBq (0.1 mCi) on the morning of surgery for protocol 1 and 18.5 MBq (0.5 mCi) on the afternoon before surgery for protocol 2. RESULTS: The patients in protocols 1 and 2 were comparable in terms of age, tumor size, tumor location, histologic type, node positivity, and frequency of a previous surgical biopsy. Comparing protocols 1 and 2, early (30 min) LSG images found the SLN equally often (69% vs. 68%). Isotope identified the SLN equally often at surgery (93% vs. 97%) as did isotope plus dye (98% vs. 99%). A comparable number of SLNs was found (2.5 vs. 2.8 per axilla), and the concordance between isotope and dye in the SLN was also comparable (97% vs. 95%). Late LSG images (at 2 h, possible only for protocol 2) identified the SLN in significantly more patients compared with early images (86% vs. 68%). CONCLUSION: With unfiltered (99m)Tc-sulfur colloid injected intradermally, the results of SLN biopsy under the 1-d and 2-d protocols are virtually identical. A 2-d protocol allows increased efficiency in scheduling, both for nuclear medicine physicians and for the operating room, with no compromise in the effectiveness of SLN mapping.

Adult↗

Lack of correlation of functional scintigraphy with (99m)technetium-methoxyisobutylisonitrile with histological necrosis following induction chemotherapy or measures of P-glycoprotein expression in high-grade osteosarcoma.

In osteosarcoma, some studies have suggested P-glycoprotein expression is a prognostic factor. The clearance of (99m)technetium hexakis-2-methoxyisobutylisonitrile ((99m)Tc-MIBI) has been used in some tumor systems as an in vivo measure of P-glycoprotein-mediated efflux. In this study we explored the correlation between (99m)Tc-MIBI clearance and histological necrosis following induction chemotherapy and P-glycoprotein expression in osteosarcoma. The primary tumors of 20 patients with high-grade osteosarcoma were imaged at diagnosis with (99m)Tc-MIBI, and the uptake ratios and biological half-lives were calculated. P-Glycoprotein expression in the tumor tissue was determined immunohistochemically and by measuring mRNA expression of the multidrug resistance-1 gene. The histological necrosis following induction chemotherapy was assessed by the Huvos grading system. The biological half-life of (99m)Tc-MIBI ranged from 1.4 to 52.5 h. Seven of the 20 tumor samples had a favorable extent of necrosis following induction chemotherapy. The (99m)Tc-MIBI half-life and uptake ratio showed no correlation with histological necrosis following induction chemotherapy. The (99m)Tc-MIBI half-life and uptake ratio did not correlate with either measure of P-glycoprotein expression. The results of this pilot study indicate that (99m)Tc-MIBI imaging is not an effective predictor of histological necrosis following induction chemotherapy in high-grade osteosarcoma. (99m)Tc-MIBI imaging did not correlate with measures of P-glycoprotein expression in the tumor tissue.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer: unfiltered radioisotope is superior to filtered.

BACKGROUND: The combination of gamma-probe radiolocalization and blue-dye mapping of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) has been advocated as the most accurate method for staging the clinically negative axilla in breast cancer patients, but the technical aspects of these procedures are not fully characterized in the literature. In this study, we compared the success of SLN localization in 134 consecutive breast cancer patients using blue dye plus two different preparations of radiocolloid. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained data base was performed to assess SLN localization in two cohorts of patients. Unfiltered technetium-99m (Tc-99m) sulfur colloid (in 77 patients; group I) was compared with filtered Tc-99m sulfur colloid (in 57 patients; group II). All patients had a peritumoral injection of blue dye and isotope, followed immediately by lymphoscintigraphy to confirm radioactivity at the injection site and to image the SLN. Statistical analysis was performed using the Pearson chi-square test. RESULTS: Unfiltered Tc-99m sulfur colloid was superior to the filtered radiocolloid in localizing the SLN (88% versus 73%; p = 0.03). SLN imaging by lymphoscintigraphy was also more successful in the unfiltered group. Using the combination of blue dye and radiolocalization, SLNs were identified in 94% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: For optimal localization of the SLN in breast cancer patients, surgeons should use the combined technique of blue-dye mapping and gamma-probe localization using unfiltered Tc-99m sulfur colloid.

Biopsy↗

Lessons learned from 500 cases of lymphatic mapping for breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the factors affecting the identification and accuracy of the sentinel node in breast cancer in a single institutional experience. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Few of the many published feasibility studies of lymphatic mapping for breast cancer have adequate numbers to assess in detail the factors affecting failed and falsely negative mapping procedures. METHODS: Five hundred consecutive sentinel lymph node biopsies were performed using isosulfan blue dye and technetium-labeled sulfur colloid. A planned conventional axillary dissection was performed in 104 cases. RESULTS: Sentinel nodes were identified in 458 of 492 (92%) evaluable cases. The mean number of sentinel nodes removed was 2.1. The sentinel node was successfully identified by blue dye in 80% (393/492), by isotope in 85% (419/492), and by the combination of blue dye and isotope in 93% (458/492) of patients. Success in locating the sentinel node was unrelated to tumor size, type, location, or multicentricity; the presence of lymphovascular invasion; histologic or nuclear grade; or a previous surgical biopsy. The false-negative rate of 10.6% (5/47) was calculated using only those 104 cases where a conventional axillary dissection was planned before surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Sentinel node biopsy in patients with early breast cancer is a safe and effective alternative to routine axillary dissection for patients with negative nodes. Because of a small but definite rate of false-negative results, this procedure is most valuable in patients with a low risk of axillary nodal metastases. Both blue dye and radioisotope should be used to maximize the yield and accuracy of successful localizations.

Adult↗

Sentinel lymph node biopsy after percutaneous diagnosis of nonpalpable breast cancer.

PURPOSE: To determine the technical success rate of sentinel lymph node biopsy in women with nonpalpable infiltrating breast cancer diagnosed by using percutaneous core biopsy and to determine the frequency with which sentinel lymph node biopsy obviated axillary dissection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review revealed 33 women who underwent sentinel node biopsy after percutaneous core biopsy diagnosis of nonpalpable infiltrating breast cancer. Sentinel nodes were identified with radioisotope and blue dye; the procedure was technically successful if sentinel nodes were found at surgery. All sentinel nodes were excised. Axillary dissection was performed if tumor was present in sentinel nodes. RESULTS: Sentinel nodes were found at surgery in 30 women (91%). Sentinel nodes were identified with both radioisotope and blue dye in 22 (73%) of these women, with only radioisotope in six (20%), and with only blue dye in two (7%). Sentinel nodes were found in 12 (80%) of 15 women in the first half of the study versus all 18 (100%) women in the second half (P = .08). Sentinel nodes were free of tumor in 23 (77%) of 30 women. In six (86%) of seven women with tumor in sentinel nodes, the sentinel nodes were the only nodes with tumor. CONCLUSION: Sentinel node biopsy was successful in 30 women (91%) with nonpalpable infiltrating carcinoma diagnosed with percutaneous core biopsy and obviated axillary dissection in 23 women (70%). Using both radioisotope and blue dye may increase the success rate. A learning curve exists, and success improves with experience.

Adult↗

[18F]-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography localizes residual thyroid cancer in patients with negative diagnostic (131)I whole body scans and elevated serum thyroglobulin levels.

Progressive dedifferentiation of thyroid cancer cells leads to a loss of iodine-concentrating ability, with resultant false negative, whole body radioactive iodine scans in approximately 20% of all differentiated metastatic thyroid cancer lesions. We tested the hypothesis that all metastatic thyroid cancer lesions that did not concentrate iodine, but did produce thyroglobulin (Tg), could be localized by [18F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET). We performed FDG-PET on 37 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer after surgery and radioiodine ablation who had negative diagnostic 131I whole body scans during routine follow-up. Serum Tg, Tg autoantibodies, neck ultrasounds, and other clinically indicated imaging procedures were performed to detect residual disease. In those with elevated Tg levels, FDG-PET localized occult disease in 71%, was false positive in one, and was false negative in five patients. The majority of false negative FDG-PET occurred in patients with minimal cervical adenopathy. Surgical resections, biopsies, 131 therapy, and differentiation therapy were performed based on the PET results. The FDG-PET result changed the clinical management in 19 of the 37 patients. In patients with elevated Tg levels, FDG-PET had a positive predictive value of 92%. In patients with low Tg levels, FDG-PET had a negative predictive value of 93%. No FDG-PET scans were positive in stage I patients; however, they were always positive in stage IV patients with elevated Tg levels. An elevated TSH level (i.e. hypothyroidism) did not increase the ability to detect lesions. FDG-PET is able to localize residual thyroid cancer lesions in patients who have negative diagnostic 131I whole body scans and elevated Tg levels, although it was not sensitive enough to detect minimal residual disease in cervical nodes.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗

Rhenium-186-labeled hydroxyethylidene diphosphonate dosimetry and dosing guidelines for the palliation of skeletal metastases from androgen-independent prostate cancer.

Rhenium-186 (tin)-labeled hydroxyethylidene diphosphonate (186Re-labeled HEDP) was evaluated in 27 men with progressive androgen-independent prostate cancer and bone metastases. Administered activities ranged from 1251 to 4336 MBq (33.8-117.2 mCi). The primary objectives were to assess tumor targeting, normal organ dosimetry, and safety. Antitumor effects were assessed by posttherapy changes in prostate-specific antigen and, when present, palliation of pain. Whole-body kinetics, blood and kidney clearance, skeletal dose, marrow dose, and urinary excretion of the isotope were assessed. Targeting of skeletal disease was observed over the period of quantification (4-168 h). Radiation doses to whole body, bladder, and kidney were well tolerated. The dose-limiting toxicity was myelosuppression (grade III) at 4107 MBq (111 mCi) and grade II at 296 MBq (80 mCi). Probe clearance (whole body) and urinary excretion measurements were highly correlated. Of the six patients treated at the highest dosage schedules (three at 1510 MBq/m2 and three at 1665 MBq/m2), three showed a posttherapy decline in prostate-specific antigen of 50% or more. The declines were not sustained. The determination of total activity retained at 24 h, as well as an estimate of marrow dose, correlated with the amount of myelosuppression observed. These results suggest that a single 24-h measurement of retained activity would allow individualized dosing and an improved therapeutic index relative to fixed dosing schema. Repetitive dosing is required to increase palliation.

Androgens↗

Carotid body paraganglioma metastatic to bone: report of two cases.

Two patients with carotid body paraganglioma developed bone metastases 3 and 6 years respectively after surgical excision of the primary tumors. Plain radiographs showed ill-defined metastatic lesions. Scintigram using radiolabeled metaiodobenzylguanidine, an analogue of noradrenaline that is taken up by neurosecretary granules, showed an abnormal accumulation in the corresponding metastatic lesion. Histologically, nests of epithelioid cells with clear cytoplasm and pyknotic nuclei and abundant collagen fibers were observed within destroyed trabeculae. Treatment including external radiation and surgery provided pain relief and early local disease control.

Adult↗

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer: initial experience at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

BACKGROUND: Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) has emerged as a potential alternative to routine axillary dissection in clinically node-negative breast cancer. STUDY DESIGN: From September 1995 to June 1996 at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 60 patients with clinically node-negative cancer underwent SNB, which was immediately followed by standard axillary dissection. Both blue dye and radioisotope were used to identify the sentinel node. SNB was compared with standard axillary dissection for its ability to accurately reflect the final pathologic status of the axillary nodes. RESULTS: The sentinel node was successfully identified by lymphoscintigraphy in 75% (42 of 56), by blue dye in 75% (44 of 59), by isotope in 88% (52 of 59), and by the combination of blue dye and isotope in 93% (55 of 59) of all 59 evaluable patients. Of the 55 patients in this study where sentinel nodes were identified, 20 (36%) were histologically positive. The sentinel node was falsely negative in three patients, yielding an accuracy of 95%. SNB was more accurate for T1 (98%) than for T2-T3 tumors (82%). CONCLUSIONS: Lymphatic mapping is technically feasible, reliably identifies a sentinel node in most cases, and appears more accurate for T1 tumors than for larger lesions. Blue dye and radioisotope are complementary techniques, and the overall success of the procedure is maximized when the two are used together.

Biopsy↗

111Indium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid cerebrospinal fluid flow studies predict distribution of intrathecally administered chemotherapy and outcome in patients with leptomeningeal metastases.

Abnormal CSF flow can impair the distribution of intrathecally administered drugs. We examined the relationship between 111indium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (111In-DTPA) CSF flow studies and methotrexate levels in ventricular and lumbar CSF and correlated these findings with outcome in patients with leptomeningeal metastases (LM). Seven men and 10 women with LM (10 solid tumors, 6 lymphoma, 1 leukemia) received 12 mg methotrexate and 0.5 mCi 111In-DTPA by intra-Ommaya injection; images were obtained immediately and after 4, 24, and 48 hours. Ventricular and lumbar CSF methotrexate and radioactivity levels were measured 6 hours after injection. Thirteen patients had abnormal CSF flow studies, 9 with multiple sites of obstruction. CSF flow obstruction was observed at ventricular outlets in 13 patients, cerebral convexities in 9 and in the spine in 2. With one exception, all obstructions were explicable by tumor deposits on MRIs. For all patients, ventricular and lumbar methotrexate and radioactivity levels correlated closely. Three patients with a normal CSF flow study are alive at 15+, 7.5+, and 3.9+ months from treatment. Of 12 with abnormal CSF flow studies, 11 are dead a median of 2 months from diagnosis. Two patients had diffusely delayed flow studies and both developed methotrexate leukoencephalopathy. CSF flow studies using 111In-DTPA reliably predict distribution of intrathecal methotrexate. Abnormal flow studies correlate with structural abnormalities, are an unfavorable prognostic factor, and may predict intrathecal chemotherapy toxicity.

Adult↗

3F8 monoclonal antibody treatment of patients with stage 4 neuroblastoma: a phase II study.

3F8 is an IgG3 murine monoclonal antibody directed against the ganglioside GD2. In a phase II study, 3F8 was administered i.v. to 16 patients (pts) who had stage 4 neuroblastoma. Response was seen in bony lesions (2 of 7 pts) and marrow (3 of 8 pts). Acute toxicities of pain, fever, urticaria, hypertension, hypotension and anaphylactoid reactions were self-limited and manageable. Three pts are long-term survivors between 79-130+ months after 3F8 treatment without additional systemic therapy and no delayed neurological complications. The potential benefits of 3F8 when added to chemoradio-therapy warrant further investigation.

Abdominal Pain↗

Thallium-201 scintigraphy for the evaluation of tumor response to preoperative chemotherapy in patients with osteosarcoma.

BACKGROUND: The degree of tumor necrosis after preoperative intravenous chemotherapy is likely to be an indicator of prognosis for patients with primary osteosarcoma. This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of thallium-201 (Tl-201) scintigraphy in assessing response to chemotherapy in patients with osteosarcoma and to correlate the findings with the degree of tumor necrosis assessed histologically. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with biopsy-proven osteosarcoma underwent Tl-201 imaging before and immediately after preoperative intravenous chemotherapy. The maximum pixel counts taken over the tumor divided by those taken of a background region yielded a tumor-to-background ratio. The percentage of change in the tumor-to-background ratio before and after chemotherapy, defined as the alteration ratio, was correlated with the percentage of tumor necrosis. The percentages of tumor necrosis were classified into 4 grades: Grade 1, <50%; Grade 2, 50-89%; Grade 3, 90- 99%; Grade 4, 100%. RESULTS: Three patients with Grade 1 histologic response had an alteration ratio of 31% +/- 4 (mean +/- standard deviation). Three patients with Grade 2 response had an alteration ratio of 76% +/- 9. Nine patients with Grade 3 response had an alteration ratio of 84% +/- 11. Nine patients with Grade 4 response had an alteration ratio of 96% +/- 5. These ratios correlated well with the histologic grades (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that Tl-201 scintigraphy is a powerful tool in the evaluation of tumor response to chemotherapy in patients with osteosarcoma.

Adolescent↗

Divergence and conservation of the genomic RNAs of Taiwan and Hawaii strains of papaya ringspot potyvirus.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the genome of a Taiwan isolate of papaya ringspot potyvirus (PRSV YK) was determined from three overlapping cDNA clones and by direct RNA sequencing. Comparison was made with the reported Hawaii isolate of PRSV HA. Both genomes are 10,326 nucleotides long, excluding the poly(A)-tail. They encode a polyprotein of 3344 amino acids with a 5' leader of 85 nucleotides and a 3' non-translated region of 209 nucleotides. The two genomes share an overall nucleotide identity of 83.4% and an amino acid identity of 90.6%. The 3' non-translated regions show 92.3% identity. The first 23 nucleotides of the leaders are identical, while the remaining parts of the leaders only show 51.6% identity. The P1 protein genes of the two isolates are very different, with 70.9% nucleotide identity and 66.7% encoded amino acids identity. However, the other viral proteins of the two virus isolates are similar, with a 82.5-89.8% nucleotide identity of their genes and 91.2-97.6% amino acid identity, indicating that they are strains of the same potyvirus. Analysis of the ratios of nucleotide differences to the actual amino acid changes revealed that there are only 2.63 nucleotide changes for each amino acid change in the P1 protein, whereas for the other proteins 4.0-16.4 nucleotide changes are required for each amino acid replacement. The P1 protein has 58% of all the differences of polyprotein. The unusual variation in the leader sequences and the P1 proteins suggests that the two PRSV strains were derived from different evolutionary pathways in different geographic areas.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

131I therapy for pediatric thyroid cancer.

The treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer occurring in children and young adults remains controversial. Because the mortality rate associated with this disease is extremely low and recurrence can develop many years after primary therapy, it is impossible to perform randomized trials that answer therapeutic questions. In previous issues, the topic of thyroid cancer from the surgical perspective has been addressed. Herein the authors discuss the techniques and applicability of radioactive iodine therapy in the treatment of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. Topics included are indications for treatment as well as short- and long-term complications. A discussion of secondary malignancies is also provided.

Adolescent↗

Targeting of small-cell lung cancer using the anti-GD2 ganglioside monoclonal antibody 3F8: a pilot trial.

The present study evaluated the ability of the anti-GD2 ganglioside monoclonal antibody 3F8 to target tumor sites in patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Of 12 patients entered into the trial, ten received intravenous 3F8 labeled with 2 or 10 mCi iodine-131. The first five patients had recurrent or progressive disease after chemotherapy. Subsequent patients were studied before starting chemotherapy. Radionuclide scans were performed on days 1, 2, and 3 post-infusion and once between day 5 and day 7. Four patients underwent single-photon emission tomography (SPET) imaging. Radionuclide scans demonstrated localization to all known sites of disease, other than small brain metastases in one patient. SPET/CT scan fusion images confirmed precise localization. No significant toxicity was observed. Mean serum half-life was 64.2 h. Analysis of specimens from one patient who died of unrelated causes 6 days post-infusion confirmed the scan results. The present study demonstrates that 3F8 targets SCLC sites in patients. Further studies of anti-GD2 antibodies with higher doses of antibody and radionuclide are warranted to evaluate their role in SCLC.

Carcinoma, Small Cell↗

Detection of bony metastases of androgen-independent prostate cancer by PET-FDG.

Fourteen F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) studies were carried out in 13 patients known to have bony metastases from carcinoma of the prostate. One patient was newly diagnosed. The remaining patients had various types of therapy and were considered hormonally resistant. The average age was 67. All patients had extensive bony metastases shown on the conventional Tc99m-MDP bone scans. Only about 18% of bony lesions apparent on the conventional bone scans showed corresponding increase of FDG uptake. Anatomical correlation was performed by using co-registered images of SPECT and PET in the same area. The positive FDG uptake was not related to the duration of illness, level of PSA, previous therapy, and magnitude of disease involvement. It appears that only a small percentage of bony metastases is associated with increased glycolysis. It is possible that other metabolic processes are more important than glycolysis for providing prostate cancer with a source of energy and nutrients.

Aged↗