BACKGROUND/AIMS: [18F]FDG-PET is a functional imaging modality reflecting cellular glucose metabolism. In most malignant cells, accumulation and trapping of [18F]FDG allows the visualization of increased uptake compared with normal cells. The aim of this study was to assess the value of PET in differentiating benign from malignant hepatic lesions and to determine in which types of hepatic tumors PET can help evaluate stage, monitor response to therapy, and detect recurrence. METHODS: Eighty patients with liver lesions were enrolled (hepatocellular carcinoma 34, cholangiocarcinoma 8, metastatic liver cancer 25, hemangioma 6, liver abscess 7). Liver metastases were 22 adenocarcinoma, 2 lymphoma, 2 squamous cell carcinoma. The PET images of these patients were analyzed. SUV and lesion-to-normal liver background SUV ratio were obtained and compared among the disease groups. RESULTS: All liver metastases and all cholangiocarcinomas had increased uptake value, with SUV ratios greater than 2. Hepatocellular carcinoma had SUV ratios greater than 2 in 20 of 34 patients (59%). All hemangiomas had poor uptake, a SUV ratio of less than 2. All liver abscesses showed definite uptake. CONCLUSIONS: The PET technique using FDG static imaging was useful in differentiating malignant from benign lesions of the liver in limited situations. Limitations included false negative results in some patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver abscesses raised problems in differential diagnosis from malignant liver tumors. The findings of this study suggest that the PET technique might be applied in tumor staging and the detection of recurrence, as well as monitoring responses to therapy for all adenocarcinomas and some hepatocelluar carcinomas.
Adult ; Aged ; Diagnosis, Differential ; English Abstract ; Female ; Fludeoxyglucose F 18/diagnostic use ; Human ; Liver Diseases/*radionuclide imaging ; Liver Neoplasms/radionuclide imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiopharmaceuticals/diagnostic use ; *Tomography, Emission-Computed

PURPOSE: The interactive effects of genetic polymorphisms of cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) & N-acetyltransferase 1 (NAT1) and smoking on lung cancer development were evaluated in hospital based case-control study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male lung cancer patients (N= 157) and the male patients with no present or previous history of systemic illnesses who visited the urology department (N=138) were recruited (1998-1999). CYP2E1 & NAT1 genotypes were determined by PCR-RFLP method using RsaI and MboII digestion, respectively. RESULTS: CYP2E1 c2 or NAT1 *10 allele did not increased the risk of lung cancer. Heavy smokers (35 Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1* ; Cytochromes ; Digestion ; Gene-Environment Interaction ; Genotype ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Male ; Polymorphism, Genetic* ; Smoke* ; Smoking* ; Urology

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBL) is a rare neoplasm characterized by proliferation of lymphoma cells within the lumina of small vessels. Neurological and skin involvements usually predominate. We would describe a 78-year-old woman presented with fever, multiple erythematous skin lesions, and language disturbance. The skin biopsy of breast revealed IVLBL and malignant cells were also seen in the bone marrow. Shortly after completion of six cycles of CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone) with clinical response, intracranial relapse with multiple brain masses occurred. The palliative whole brain radiation therapy was given and intensive chemotherapy should be investigated in the case presented here.
Aged ; B-Lymphocytes* ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Brain ; Breast ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Therapy* ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell* ; Recurrence* ; Skin ; Vincristine