The present study aims to evaluate the role of Positron emission tomography (PET) -computed tomography (CT) with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) in the restaging of high-risk testicular cancer.
Forty-five patients (mean age of 38. 1±11.3 years and range 23-81 years) with testicular carcinoma, underwent 18F-FDG PET-CT during their clinical course were prospectively selected. PET positivity was defined as a site of abnormal 18F-FDG uptake in tissue histologically proven or clinically or radiographically suspected to represent tissue involvement. The sites of disease were characterized as either nodal or extranodal. All patients were followed-up for at least 12 months with a diagnostic and/or functional imaging modality.
Of the 45 patients 38 (84%) patient presented with seminoma and 7 (16%) were Non-seminomatous germ cell tumors. Analysis of secondary disease spectrum showed nodal involvement in 65%, osseous involvement in 23% and mixed visceral/soft tissue lesions in 12% of patients. Nineteen (42%) were negative for any metastatic disease. All negative patients remain disease free in the follow-up of one year. Out of the positive 26/45 patients, PET-CT showed progressive disease in 3/26, stable disease 1/26 and partial response in 2/26 and complete metabolic resolution in 20/26 patients. 18F-FDG PET-CT was able to characterize all patients leading to significant change of primary decision of wait and watch to go for treatment and vice versa.
18F-FDG PET-CT scan is potentially an excellent tool for characterization of equivocal lesions on CT scan in the restaging settings and follow up of high-risk testicular cancer patients.
Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP. 2020 Feb 01*** epublish ***
Rashid Rasheed, Fareeda Al-Kandari, Mohammad Ghanem, Fahad Marafi, Sharjeel Usmani
Department of Chemistry, Government College University (GCUF), Kotwali Road, Gurunanakpura, 38000, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan., Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kuwait Cancer Control Center, Ministry of Health, Kuwait., Department of Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait., Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Jaber Al-Ahmad Center for Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Kuwait.