Is PET/CT Able to Predict Histology in Thymic Epithelial Tumours? A Narrative Review

The usefulness of FDG PET/CT scan in the evaluation of thymic epithelial tumours (TETs) has been reported by several authors, but data are still limited and its application in clinical practice is far from being defined. We performed a narrative review of pertinent literature in order to clarify the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Diagnostics (Basel) 2022-12, Vol.13 (1), p.98
Main Authors: Chiappetta, Marco, Mendogni, Paolo, Cattaneo, Margherita, Evangelista, Jessica, Farina, Piero, Pizzuto, Daniele Antonio, Annunziata, Salvatore, Castello, Angelo, Congedo, Maria Teresa, Tabacco, Diomira, Sassorossi, Carolina, Castellani, Massimo, Nosotti, Mario, Margaritora, Stefano, Lococo, Filippo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
18F-FDG PET/CT
Biopsy
Cancer
Classification
CT imaging
Diagnosis
Endocrine gland tumors
Health aspects
Histology
Hyperplasia
Investigations
Medical imaging
Medical prognosis
Meta-analysis
Metabolism
Methods
PET imaging
radiometabolic assessment
Review
thymic epithelial tumour
thymoma
Thymus
Thymus gland
Tomography
Tumors
WHO
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Summary:The usefulness of FDG PET/CT scan in the evaluation of thymic epithelial tumours (TETs) has been reported by several authors, but data are still limited and its application in clinical practice is far from being defined. We performed a narrative review of pertinent literature in order to clarify the role of FDG PET/CT in the prediction of TET histology and to discuss clinical implications and future perspectives. There is only little evidence that FDG PET/CT scan may distinguish thymic hyperplasia from thymic epithelial tumours. On the other hand, it seems to discriminate well thymomas from carcinomas and, even more, to predict the grade of malignancy (WHO classes). To this end, SUVmax and other PET variables (i.e., the ratio between SUVmax and tumour dimensions) have been adopted, with good results. Finally, however promising, the future of PET/CT and theranostics in TETs is far from being defined; more robust analysis of imaging texture on thymic neoplasms, as well as new exploratory studies with "stromal PET tracers," are ongoing. PET may play a role in predicting histology in TETs and help physicians in the management of these insidious malignancies.
ISSN:2075-4418
2075-4418
DOI:10.3390/diagnostics13010098