Combined positron emission tomography computed tomography using uptake of fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose by Lymph Nodes as prognostic factor in colorectal cancer

Abstract EN

Background: Management of colorectal cancer is rather difficult due to recurrences and metastasis.

Therefore, there is a need for reliable prognostic indicators like non-invasive imaging methods.

Aim: To examine the prognostic importance of Fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose uptake by lymph nodes preoperative using combined positron emission tomography / computed tomography (PET/CT) in colorectal cancer.

Methods: This prospective study included 150 adult patients with colorectal cancer.

All patients were exposed to whole-body 18F-PET/CT preoperative at King Hussein Hospital/Royal Medical Services, JORDAN, from June 2015-May 2019.

Tumor diameter and grade with lymph node metastasis were assessed.

All patients were re-examined every 6 months if any abnormal findings were found; using 18F PET/CT.

Results: lymph nodes Standard uptake value (SUVLN) of 1.3 was the cut-off point used to predict recurrence.

SUVLN was found to be significantly associated with tumor diameter, lymph node metastasis, and recurrence.

Univariate and multivariate analyses, both demonstrated a statistically significant correlation between recurrence, SUVLN and tumor grade.

These were also found to be independent risk factors for recurrence.

Conclusion: Preoperative SUVLN was significantly correlated with recurrence and it is a significant prognostic characteristic in patients with colorectal cancer.