The dilemma of 18F-FDG PET/CT thyroid incidentaloma: what we should expect from FNA. A systematic review and meta-analysis.
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ABSTRACT: Purpose
18F-FDG thyroid incidentaloma (TI) occurs in ~2% of PET/CT examinations with a cancer prevalence of up to 35-40%. Guidelines recommend fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNA) if a focal 18F-FDG TI corresponds to a sonographic nodule >1 cm. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to provide evidence-based data on the diagnostic distribution of 18F-FDG TIs in the six Bethesda systems for reporting thyroid cytopathology (BETHESDA) subcategories.Methods
Original studies reporting 18F-FDG TIs and cytologically classified according to BETHESDA were included. Six separate meta-analyses were performed to obtain the pooled prevalence (95% confidence interval, 95% CI) of 18F-FDG TIs in the six BETHESDA subcategories.Results
Fifteen studies were finally included. Nine studies were from Asian/Eastern and six from Western countries. FNA data according to BETHESDA was available in 2304 cases. The pooled prevalence of 18F-FDG TIs according to BETHESDA was BETHESDA I 10% (6-14), BETHESDA II 45% (37-53), BETHESDA III 8% (3-13), BETHESDA IV 8% (5-12), BETHESDA V 6% (4-9), BETHESDA VI 19% (13-25). A significantly different prevalence was found in the BETHESDA IV between Asian/Eastern (2%) and Western (19%) studies.Conclusion
Two-thirds of focal 18F-FDG TIs undergoing FNA have either malignant (BETHESDA VI) or benign (BETHESDA II) cytology while a minority will have indeterminate (BETHESDA III or IV) FNA results. Significant differences between Asian/Eastern and Western studies are also present in the prevalence of indeterminate FNA results.
SUBMITTER: Scappaticcio L
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8325664 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Backgroundsignificance of incidental thyroid 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scans remains controversial. We aimed to evaluate the ability of [18F]FDG-PET/CT texture analysis to predict final diagnosis in thyroid incidentaloma.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated medical records of all patients who performed a [18F]FDG-PET/CT from January 2012 to October 2016. Those patients who presented a thyroid incidentaloma described in the medical records and performed a fine needle aspiration in our institution were considered for the analysis. Cytological and/or histological results were used as reference standard to define the final diagnosis. In case of negative cytology, the nodule was considered benign. In case of non-diagnostic or inconclusive results ultrasound, follow-up and further cytology/histology were used as final diagnosis. For suspected or positive cytological result, histology was used as reference standard. PET images were segmented using a General Electric AW workstation running PET VCAR software (GE Healthcare, Waukesha, WI, USA) settled with a threshold of 40% SUVmax. LifeX software (http://www.lifexsoft.org) was used to perform texture analysis. Statistical analysis was performed with R package (https://www.r-project.org).ResultsWe identified 55 patients with incidental thyroid [18F]FDG uptake. Five patients were excluded from the analysis because a final diagnosis was not available. Thirty-two out of 50 patients had benign nodules while in 18/50 cases a malignancy (primary thyroid cancer = 15, metastases = 3) was diagnosed. Conventional PET parameters and histogram-based features were calculated for all 50 patients, while other matrices-based features were available for 28/50 patients. SUVmax and skewness resulted significantly different in benign and malignant nodules (p = 0.01 and = 0.02, respectively). Using ROC analysis, seven features were identified as potential predictors. Among all the textural features tested, skewness showed the best area under the curve (=?0.66). SUV-based parameters resulted in the highest specificity while MTV, TLG, skewness and kurtosis, as well as correlationGLCM resulted better in sensitivity.Conclusions[18F]FDG-PET/CT texture analysis seems to be a promising approach to stratify the patients with thyroid incidentaloma identified on PET scans, with respect to the risk of the diagnosis of a malignant thyroid nodule and thus, could refine the selection of the patients to be referred for cytology.
| S-EPMC5954705 | biostudies-literature
Project description:PurposeTo evaluate whether quantitative [18F]FDG-PET/CT assessment, including radiomic analysis of [18F]FDG-positive thyroid nodules, improved the preoperative differentiation of indeterminate thyroid nodules of non-Hürthle cell and Hürthle cell cytology.MethodsProspectively included patients with a Bethesda III or IV thyroid nodule underwent [18F]FDG-PET/CT imaging. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed for standardised uptake values (SUV) and SUV-ratios, including assessment of SUV cut-offs at which a malignant/borderline neoplasm was reliably ruled out (≥ 95% sensitivity). [18F]FDG-positive scans were included in radiomic analysis. After segmentation at 50% of SUVpeak, 107 radiomic features were extracted from [18F]FDG-PET and low-dose CT images. Elastic net regression classifiers were trained in a 20-times repeated random split. Dimensionality reduction was incorporated into the splits. Predictive performance of radiomics was presented as mean area under the ROC curve (AUC) across the test sets.ResultsOf 123 included patients, 84 (68%) index nodules were visually [18F]FDG-positive. The malignant/borderline rate was 27% (33/123). SUV-metrices showed AUCs ranging from 0.705 (95% CI, 0.601-0.810) to 0.729 (0.633-0.824), 0.708 (0.580-0.835) to 0.757 (0.650-0.864), and 0.533 (0.320-0.747) to 0.700 (0.502-0.898) in all (n = 123), non-Hürthle (n = 94), and Hürthle cell (n = 29) nodules, respectively. At SUVmax, SUVpeak, SUVmax-ratio, and SUVpeak-ratio cut-offs of 2.1 g/mL, 1.6 g/mL, 1.2, and 0.9, respectively, sensitivity of [18F]FDG-PET/CT was 95.8% (95% CI, 78.9-99.9%) in non-Hürthle cell nodules. In Hürthle cell nodules, cut-offs of 5.2 g/mL, 4.7 g/mL, 3.4, and 2.8, respectively, resulted in 100% sensitivity (95% CI, 66.4-100%). Radiomic analysis of 84 (68%) [18F]FDG-positive nodules showed a mean test set AUC of 0.445 (95% CI, 0.290-0.600) for the PET model.ConclusionQuantitative [18F]FDG-PET/CT assessment ruled out malignancy in indeterminate thyroid nodules. Distinctive, higher SUV cut-offs should be applied in Hürthle cell nodules to optimize rule-out ability. Radiomic analysis did not contribute to the additional differentiation of [18F]FDG-positive nodules.Trial registration numberThis trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02208544 (5 August 2014), https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02208544 .
| S-EPMC9165273 | biostudies-literature
Project description:PurposeAs ~25% of cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules harbour malignancy, diagnostic lobectomy is still performed in many cases. 18FDG PET/CT rules out malignancy in visually negative nodules; however, none of the currently available interpretation criteria differentiates malignant from benign 18FDG-avid nodules. We evaluated the ability of PET metrics and radiomics features (RFs) to predict final diagnosis of 18FDG-avid cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules.MethodsSeventy-eight patients were retrospectively included. After volumetric segmentation of each thyroid lesion, 4 PET metrics and 107 RFs were extracted. A logistic regression was performed including thyroid stimulating hormone, PET metrics, and RFs to assess their predictive performance. A linear combination of the resulting parameters generated a radiomics score (RS) that was matched with cytology classes (Bethesda III and IV) and compared with final diagnosis.ResultsTwo RFs (shape_Sphericity and glcm_Autocorrelation) differentiated malignant from benign lesions. A predictive model integrating RS and cytology classes effectively stratified the risk of malignancy. The prevalence of thyroid cancer increased from 5 to 37% and 79% in accordance with the number (score 0, 1 or 2, respectively) of positive biomarkers.ConclusionsOur multiparametric model may be useful for reducing the number of diagnostic lobectomies with advantages in terms of costs and quality of life for patients.
| S-EPMC8763930 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe clinical diagnosis of deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) is supported by imaging findings including 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT). To avoid misinterpretation due to normal post-surgery inflammation we assessed normal imaging findings in non-infected patients after sternotomy.MethodsThis is a prospective cohort study including non-infectious patients with sternotomy. All patients underwent 18F-FDG-PET/CT at either 5 weeks (group 1), 12 weeks (group 2) or 52 weeks (group 3) post-surgery. 18F-FDG uptake was scored visually in five categories and assessed quantitatively.ResultsA total of 44 patients were included. Sternal mean SUVmax was 7.34 (± 1.86), 5.22 (± 2.55) and 3.20 (± 1.80) in group 1, 2 and 3, respectively (p < 0.01). Sternal mean SUVmean was 3.84 (± 1.00), 2.69 (± 1.32) and 1.71 (± 0.98) in group 1, 2 and 3 (p < 0.01). All patients in group 1 had elevated uptake whereas group 2 and 3 showed 2/15 (13%) and 11/20 (55%) patients respectively with no elevated uptake. Group 3 still showed an elevated uptake pattern in in 9/20 (45%) and in 3/9 (33%) with a high-grade diffuse uptake pattern.ConclusionThis study shows significant lower sternal 18F-FDG at 55 weeks compared to 5 weeks post-sternotomy however elevated uptake patterns may persist.
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Project description:Knowledge of the within-subject variability of 18F-FDG PET/MRI measurements is necessary for proper interpretation of quantitative PET or MRI metrics in the context of therapeutic efficacy assessments with integrated PET/MRI scanners. The goal of this study was to determine the test-retest repeatability of these metrics on PET/MRI, with comparison to similar metrics acquired by PET/CT. Methods: This prospective study enrolled subjects with pathology-proven pelvic malignancies. Baseline imaging consisted of PET/CT immediately followed by PET/MRI, using a single 370-MBq 18F-FDG dose. Repeat imaging was performed within 7 d using an identical imaging protocol, with no oncologic therapy between sessions. PET imaging on both scanners consisted of a list-mode acquisition at a single pelvic station. The MRI consisted of 2-point Dixon imaging for attenuation correction, standard sequences for anatomic correlation, and diffusion-weighted imaging. PET data were statically reconstructed using various frame durations and minimizing uptake time differences between sessions. SUV metrics were extracted for both PET/CT and PET/MRI in each imaging session. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) metrics were extracted for both PET/MRI sessions. Results: The study cohort consisted of 14 subjects (13 female, 1 male) with various pelvic cancers (11 cervical, 2 rectal, 1 endometrial). For SUVmax, the within-subject coefficient of variation (wCV) appeared higher for PET/CT (8.5%-12.8%) than PET/MRI (6.6%-8.7%) across all PET reconstructions, though with no significant repeatability differences (all P values ≥ 0.08) between modalities. For lean body mass-adjusted SUVpeak, the wCVs appeared similar for PET/CT (9.9%-11.5%) and PET/MRI (9.2%-11.3%) across all PET reconstructions, again with no significant repeatability differences (all P values ≥ 0.14) between modalities. For PET/MRI, the wCV for ADCmedian of 3.5% appeared lower than the wCVs for SUVmax (6.6%-8.7%) and SULpeak (9.2%-11.3%), though without significant repeatability differences (all P values ≥ 0.23). Conclusion: For solid tumors of the pelvis, the repeatability of the evaluated SUV and ADC metrics on 18F-FDG PET/MRI is both acceptably high and similar to previously published values for 18F-FDG PET/CT and MRI, supporting the use of 18F-FDG PET/MRI for quantitative oncologic treatment response assessments.
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Project description:Aims: The aim of this study was to determine whether 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) parameters might be prognostic markers for patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Methods: We searched for eligible articles in PubMed, EMBASE (Ovid), Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to February 2021. We included studies addressing the association between 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters and clinical outcomes among patients with DTC. Quality assessment was performed using the Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool. Results: A total of 25 studies including 2,954 patients (1,994 females, 67.5%) were included; 2,416 patients (81.8%) had papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), and the mean or median follow-up time ranged from 19.1 months to 17.1 years. Thirteen (52.0%) studies were assessed as "unclear" for the domain of study participation. The most common timing of PET/CT scans was after thyroidectomy (in 20 of 25 studies, 80%), especially in patients with an elevated thyroglobulin (Tg) and a negative radioiodine whole-body scan (WBS). The most common PET parameter was FDG uptake. Twelve of 17 (70.6%) and 12 of 12 (100%) studies showed an association between PET/CT parameters and disease progression and survival in patients with DTC, respectively. Conclusion: 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters alone or combined with other variables can serve as prognostic markers to identify DTC patients with poor outcomes, especially in the setting of an elevated Tg and a negative WBS. Future research is needed to confirm these findings and to examine the prognostic value of PET/CT parameters for DTC patients, considering the heterogeneity in PET/CT parameters, unclear information of patients, and PET/CT-adapted treatment modifications.
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Project description:BackgroundIdiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is an important and treatable cause of neurologic impairment. Diagnosis is complicated due to symptoms overlapping with other age related disorders. The pathophysiology underlying iNPH is not well understood. We explored FDG-PET abnormalities in iNPH patients in order to determine if FDG-PET may serve as a biomarker to differentiate iNPH from common neurodegenerative disorders.MethodsWe retrospectively compared 18F-FDG PET-CT imaging patterns from seven iNPH patients (mean age 74 ± 6 years) to age and sex matched controls, as well as patients diagnosed with clinical Alzheimer's disease dementia (AD), Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's Disease Dementia (PDD), and behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). Partial volume corrected and uncorrected images were reviewed separately.ResultsPatients with iNPH, when compared to controls, AD, DLB/PDD, and bvFTD, had significant regional hypometabolism in the dorsal striatum, involving the caudate and putamen bilaterally. These results remained highly significant after partial volume correction.ConclusionsIn this study, we report a FDG-PET pattern of hypometabolism in iNPH involving the caudate and putamen with preserved cortical metabolism. This pattern may differentiate iNPH from degenerative diseases and has the potential to serve as a biomarker for iNPH in future studies. These findings also further our understanding of the pathophysiology underlying the iNPH clinical presentation.
| S-EPMC5987871 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an important role in the diagnosis of leptomeningeal metastases (LM); however, some sub-centimeter lesions may be missed. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has a high sensitivity and may play a synergistic role with MRI in diagnosing spinal LM (SLM). We aimed to retrospectively evaluate the detection of SLM with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT (18F-FDG PET/CT) compared to that of whole spinal cord MRI in a single center.MethodsPatients with SLM who had undergone 18F-FDG PET/CT and MRI were enrolled. 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging findings were independently reviewed by 2 nuclear medicine physicians. 18F-FDG PET/CT findings of SLMs were described. A consistency test was conducted to assess the patient-based diagnostic results obtained by the 2 physicians. Patient-based sensitivity, accuracy, and specificity in diagnosing SLM between 18F-FDG PET/CT and MRI of the whole spinal cord were compared using the chi-square or Fisher's exact test. A P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was obtained to assess the diagnostic performance of maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) to diagnose SLM.ResultsA total of 16 patients with SLM were included in this study from October 2010 to April 2022. The primary tumor involved the lungs, liver, ovaries, prostate, esophagus, and unknown primary site. The mean age of patients, including 13 males and 3 females, was 57.8±11.2 (range, 34-73) years. Of 16 patients with SLM, 10 had nodular diseases, 2 had linear diseases, and 4 had mixed diseases. The kappa value of the consistency test of the 2 radiologists' diagnostic results was 0.765. The patient-based sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 18F-FDG PET/CT in diagnosing SLM were 87.5%, 89.2%, and 88.7%, respectively and those of whole spinal cord MRI were 75.0%, 100.0%, and 92.5%, respectively. There were no significant differences in sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy between the 2 methods, with P values of 0.654, 0.115, and 0.506, respectively. However, more nodular diseases were observed on PET/CT. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for the prediction of SLM by SUVmax was 0.907 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.831-0.983]. When SUVmax ≥2.45, the Youden index was the largest, and the sensitivity and specificity were 89.3% and 75.7%, respectively.Conclusions18F-FDG PET/CT is a good choice of imaging modality for assessing SLM. In the diagnosis of SLMs, PET/CT and enhanced MRI can play a better synergistic role.
| S-EPMC10585555 | biostudies-literature
Project description:PurposeTo assess the impact of an [18F]FDG-PET/CT-driven diagnostic workup to rule out malignancy, avoid futile diagnostic surgeries, and improve patient outcomes in thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology.MethodsIn this double-blinded, randomised controlled multicentre trial, 132 adult euthyroid patients with scheduled diagnostic surgery for a Bethesda III or IV thyroid nodule underwent [18F]FDG-PET/CT and were randomised to an [18F]FDG-PET/CT-driven or diagnostic surgery group. In the [18F]FDG-PET/CT-driven group, management was based on the [18F]FDG-PET/CT result: when the index nodule was visually [18F]FDG-positive, diagnostic surgery was advised; when [18F]FDG-negative, active surveillance was recommended. The nodule was presumed benign when it remained unchanged on ultrasound surveillance. In the diagnostic surgery group, all patients were advised to proceed to the scheduled surgery, according to current guidelines. The primary outcome was the fraction of unbeneficial patient management in one year, i.e., diagnostic surgery for benign nodules and active surveillance for malignant/borderline nodules. Intention-to-treat analysis was performed. Subgroup analyses were performed for non-Hürthle cell and Hürthle cell nodules.ResultsPatient management was unbeneficial in 42% (38/91 [95% confidence interval [CI], 32-53%]) of patients in the [18F]FDG-PET/CT-driven group, as compared to 83% (34/41 [95% CI, 68-93%]) in the diagnostic surgery group (p < 0.001). [18F]FDG-PET/CT-driven management avoided 40% (25/63 [95% CI, 28-53%]) diagnostic surgeries for benign nodules: 48% (23/48 [95% CI, 33-63%]) in non-Hürthle cell and 13% (2/15 [95% CI, 2-40%]) in Hürthle cell nodules (p = 0.02). No malignant or borderline tumours were observed in patients under surveillance. Sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive value, and benign call rate (95% CI) of [18F]FDG-PET/CT were 94.1% (80.3-99.3%), 39.8% (30.0-50.2%), 95.1% (83.5-99.4%), 35.2% (25.4-45.9%), and 31.1% (23.3-39.7%), respectively.ConclusionAn [18F]FDG-PET/CT-driven diagnostic workup of indeterminate thyroid nodules leads to practice changing management, accurately and oncologically safely reducing futile surgeries by 40%. For optimal therapeutic yield, application should be limited to non-Hürthle cell nodules.Trial registration numberThis trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02208544 (5 August 2014), https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02208544 .
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Project description:BackgroundBoth bone metastases and multiple myeloma (MM) are malignant diseases that can appear osteolytic on imaging and are difficult to differentiate. While positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has been demonstrated useful for the diagnosis of various bone lesions, correlations between PET/CT and histopathology and these diseases are unclear. This retrospective study investigated the optimal cutoff standardized uptake value (SUV) to differentiate MM and bone metastasis.MethodsPatients with newly diagnosed osteolytic lesions (n = 344) and suspected malignancy underwent both fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT and biopsy/surgery. FDG uptake and morphologic changes (e.g., soft tissue mass formation) were compared with pathological results.ResultsA total of 8896 osteolytic lesions were evaluated. The SUVmax of MM osteolytic lesions (1.6 ± 0.7) was significantly lower than that of bone metastases (5.5 ± 2.7; p = 0.000). The best cutoff SUVmax for differentiating MM and bone metastasis was 2.65 (sensitivity 86.1%, specificity 94.7%; p = 0.000). The SUVmax of bone lesions of soft tissue mass was higher than that for pure osteolytic lesions (p = 0.000). A greater percentage of patients with bone metastasis had a soft tissue mass (7%) than did patients with MM (2%). The mean SUVmax of bone metastases was 5.5 ± 2.7 (0.4-30.4); that of primary tumors was 7.5 ± 4.2 (1.0-28.5). The SUVmax of bone metastases significantly correlated with the SUVmax of primary tumors (r = 0.532; p = 0.000).ConclusionsFDG PET/CT is a valuable tool to differentiate osteolytic lesions. The best cutoff value of SUVmax for differentiating MM from bone metastasis is 2.65. The significant correlation between the SUVmax of bone metastasis and that of primary tumors is helpful for detecting primary tumors.
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