Prognostic Value of 18-Fluorodeoxyglucose-Positron Emission Tomography After Transarterial Chemoembolization in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Orthotopic Liver Transplantation

Transplant Proc. 2015 Oct;47(8):2374-6. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2015.08.026.

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between 18-FDG positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT), histological necrosis, and prognosis after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

Patients: From January 2007 through December 2013, 81 patients with HCC and liver cirrhosis were included in our liver transplantation program. For this study we selected patients who underwent 18-FDG PET/CT pre-TACE and post-TACE. All patients underwent liver transplantation within 8 weeks after PET/CT.

Results: Twenty patients with a median age of 58 years (range, 46-69 years) underwent an 18-FDG PET/CT before and after TACE. The median Standardized Uptake Value (SUV) before TACE was 3.8 (range, 2.6-8.7), with a median post-TACE SUV of 0% (range, 0-4). Among patients whose post-TACE SUV decreased to <3, >70% necrosis was observed upon study of a hepatectomy sample, with a survival rate of 100% and 80% at 1 and 3 years, respectively.

Conclusion: In conclusion, performance of an 18-FDG PET/CT before and after TACE with comparison of SUV values among patients with HCC awaiting OLT provided valuable information regarding the effectiveness of TACE.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / complications
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / therapy*
  • Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / methods*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Humans
  • Liver Cirrhosis / complications
  • Liver Cirrhosis / therapy*
  • Liver Neoplasms / complications
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Liver Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Liver Transplantation*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multimodal Imaging
  • Necrosis
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Prognosis
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Rate
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vascular Surgical Procedures

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18