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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

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01-06-2014 | Original Article

Prognostic value of ¹⁸F-DOPA PET/CT at the time of recurrence in patients affected by neuroblastoma

Authors: Arnoldo Piccardo, Matteo Puntoni, Egesta Lopci, Massimo Conte, Luca Foppiani, Stefania Sorrentino, Giovanni Morana, Mehrdad Naseri, Angelina Cistaro, Giampiero Villavecchia, Stefano Fanti, Alberto Garaventa

Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging | Issue 6/2014

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between ¹²³I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scan semi-quantification and a new ¹⁸F-DOPA positron emission tomography (PET)/CT score in patients with suspected or documented neuroblastoma (NB) relapse and to assess the association between these two parameters and progression-free survival (PFS)/overall survival (OS).

Methods

We analysed 24 NB patients who had undergone ¹²³I-MIBG and ¹⁸F-DOPA PET/CT scans at the time of suspected relapse, after applying a proper scoring system for each scan. In time-to-event analyses, the score distributions were regarded as continuous and were categorized in tertiles and medians. We used Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard models for PFS and OS in order to estimate the independent prognostic impact of ¹²³I-MIBG and ¹⁸F-DOPA PET/CT scans.

Results

The ¹²³I-MIBG and ¹⁸F-DOPA scores were highly and positively correlated (Spearman’s rho = 0.8, p < 0.001). Over a median follow-up of 14 months (range 6–82), 12 cases of disease progression and 6 deaths occurred. Multivariate Cox models showed a higher risk of disease progression [hazard ratio (HR) 17.0, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 2.7–109] in NB patients with ¹²³I-MIBG score > 3 (3rd tertile) and an even higher risk (HR:37.2, 95 % CI 2.4–574) in those with ¹⁸F-DOPA whole-body metabolic burden (WBMB) >7.5 (median), after adjustment for all main clinical/pathological factors considered. Kaplan-Meier analyses showed a significant association with OS (log-rank p = 0.01 and p = 0.03 for ¹²³I-MIBG and ¹⁸F-DOPA WBMB, respectively).

Conclusion

Our results confirm the good agreement between ¹⁸F-DOPA PET/CT and ¹²³I-MIBG scan in patients affected by NB relapse. In time-to-event analyses, ¹²³I-MIBG scan and ¹⁸F-DOPA PET/CT scores were independently and significantly associated with disease progression.

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Title: Prognostic value of 18F-DOPA PET/CT at the time of recurrence in patients affected by neuroblastoma
Authors: Arnoldo Piccardo
Matteo Puntoni
Egesta Lopci
Massimo Conte
Luca Foppiani
Stefania Sorrentino
Giovanni Morana
Mehrdad Naseri
Angelina Cistaro
Giampiero Villavecchia
Stefano Fanti
Alberto Garaventa
Publication date: 01-06-2014
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging / Issue 6/2014
Print ISSN: 1619-7070
Electronic ISSN: 1619-7089
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-014-2691-0

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Prognostic value of ¹⁸F-DOPA PET/CT at the time of recurrence in patients affected by neuroblastoma

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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