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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 3/2009

Open Access 01-03-2009 | Original Article

Reproducibility of quantitative 18F-3′-deoxy-3′-fluorothymidine measurements using positron emission tomography

Authors: Adrianus J. de Langen, Bianca Klabbers, Mark Lubberink, Ronald Boellaard, Marieke D. Spreeuwenberg, Ben J. Slotman, Remco de Bree, Egbert F. Smit, Otto S. Hoekstra, Adriaan A. Lammertsma

Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging | Issue 3/2009

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Abstract

Purpose

Positron emission tomography (PET) using 18F-3′-deoxy-3′-fluorothymidine ([18F]FLT) allows noninvasive monitoring of tumour proliferation. For serial imaging in individual patients, good reproducibility is essential. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the reproducibility of quantitative [18F]FLT measurements.

Methods

Nine patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and six with head-and-neck cancer (HNC) underwent [18F]FLT PET twice within 7 days prior to therapy. The maximum pixel value (SUVmax) and a threshold defined volume (SUV41%) were defined for all delineated lesions. The plasma to tumour transfer constant (Ki) was estimated using both Patlak graphical analysis and nonlinear regression (NLR). NLR was also used to estimate k3, which, at least in theory, selectively reflects thymidine kinase 1 activity. The level of agreement between test and retest values was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis.

Results

All primary tumours and >90% of clinically suspected locoregional metastases could be delineated. In total, 24 lesions were defined. NLR-derived Ki, Patlak-derived Ki, SUV41% and SUVmax showed excellent reproducibility with ICCs of 0.92, 0.95, 0.98 and 0.93, and SDs of 16%, 12%, 7% and 11%, respectively. Reproducibility was poor for k3 with an ICC of 0.43 and SD of 38%.

Conclusion

Quantitative [18F]FLT measurements are reproducible in both NSCLC and HNC patients. When monitoring response in individual patients, changes of more than 15% in SUV41%, 20–25% in SUVmax and Patlak-derived Ki, and 32% in NLR3k-derived Ki are likely to represent treatment effects.
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Metadata
Title
Reproducibility of quantitative 18F-3′-deoxy-3′-fluorothymidine measurements using positron emission tomography
Authors
Adrianus J. de Langen
Bianca Klabbers
Mark Lubberink
Ronald Boellaard
Marieke D. Spreeuwenberg
Ben J. Slotman
Remco de Bree
Egbert F. Smit
Otto S. Hoekstra
Adriaan A. Lammertsma
Publication date
01-03-2009
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging / Issue 3/2009
Print ISSN: 1619-7070
Electronic ISSN: 1619-7089
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-008-0960-5

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