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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

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01-01-2021 | Computed Tomography | Original Article

Fibroblast imaging of hepatic carcinoma with ⁶⁸Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT: a pilot study in patients with suspected hepatic nodules

Authors: Ximin Shi, Haiqun Xing, Xiaobo Yang, Fang Li, Shaobo Yao, Hui Zhang, Haitao Zhao, Marcus Hacker, Li Huo, Xiang Li

Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Purpose

⁶⁸Ga-FAPI-04 is a rapidly evolving PET tracer for whole-body imaging in a variety of cancers. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of ⁶⁸Ga-FAPI-04 for detecting and characterizing hepatic nodules in patients with suspected carcinoma.

Methods

Twenty-five patients showing suspicious hepatic lesions for malignancy underwent ⁶⁸Ga-FAPI-04 PET. The maximum and mean standardised uptake values (SUV_max, SUV_mean) were measured for all detected lesions and normal hepatic tissues, respectively. The target-to-background ratio (TBR) was calculated by dividing the lesion SUV_max with the SUV_mean of non-tumour liver tissue. Lesion uptake value was correlated with the in vitro hepatic FAP expression determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Results

In total, 17 patients who underwent surgery or biopsy were recruited for the final analysis. A total of 28 intrahepatic malignant lesions were detected in 16 patients; the mean SUV_max was 8.36 ± 4.21 (range 2.21 to 15.86), and mean TBR was 13.15 ± 9.48 (range 2.79 to 38.12) in all detected lesions (n = 28). One benign patient showed negligible hepatic uptake (SUV_max = 0.47), whereas 75% of the primary intrahepatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) lesions (n = 6) showed prominent FAP expression, 12.5% of the lesions (n = 1) showed moderate expression in stromal cells, and one showed negligible expression.

Conclusions

⁶⁸Ga-FAPI-04 showed high sensitivity in detecting hepatic malignancies, particularly in poorly differentiated forms with concordantly elevated FAP expression.

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Title: Fibroblast imaging of hepatic carcinoma with 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT: a pilot study in patients with suspected hepatic nodules
Authors: Ximin Shi
Haiqun Xing
Xiaobo Yang
Fang Li
Shaobo Yao
Hui Zhang
Haitao Zhao
Marcus Hacker
Li Huo
Xiang Li
Publication date: 01-01-2021
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Computed Tomography
Computed Tomography
Cholangiocarcinoma
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Cholangiocarcinoma
Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging / Issue 1/2021
Print ISSN: 1619-7070
Electronic ISSN: 1619-7089
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-020-04882-z

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Fibroblast imaging of hepatic carcinoma with ⁶⁸Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT: a pilot study in patients with suspected hepatic nodules

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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