(18)F-FDG uptake by rectal cancer is similar in mucinous and nonmucinous histological subtypes

• Published in: Annals of nuclear medicine 2016-10, Vol.30 (8), p.513-517
• Main Authors: Dos Anjos, Dalton A, Habr-Gama, Angelita, Vailati, Bruna B, Rossi, Cecilia B, Coturel, Adelina E, Perez, Rodrigo O, São Julião, Guilherme P, de Sousa, João B, Buchpiguel, Carlos A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous - diagnostic imaging; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous - metabolism; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous - pathology; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological Transport; False Negative Reactions; Female; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 - metabolism; Glycolysis; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Rectal Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Rectal Neoplasms - metabolism; Rectal Neoplasms - pathology; Tumor Burden
• ISSN: 1864-6433
• DOI: 10.1007/s12149-016-1089-4

PET/CT has been considered limited for the evaluation of mucinous colorectal tumors due to low (18)F-FDG uptake. The aim of our study was to compare PET/CT variables in mucinous (MC) and nonmucinous (NMC) rectal adenocarcinomas. Consecutive patients with cT2-4N0-2M0 rectal cancer included in a prospective clinical trial were reviewed. PET/CT was performed for primary baseline staging. Visual and quantitative analysis included SUVmax and SUVmean, metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG). PET/CT parameters were compared according to histological subtypes. Overall, 73 patients were included (18 mucinous and 55 nonmucinous). SUVmax values were similar between MC and NMC (19.7 vs. 16.6; p = 0.5). MTV and TLG values were greater in the MC group (103.9 vs. 54.1; p = 0.007 and 892.5 vs. 358.8; p = 0.020) due to larger tumor volumes of MC. Metabolic parameters at baseline PET/CT for patients with rectal cancer are similar in mucinous and nonmucinous histological subtypes.