Potential Role of FDG-PET Imaging in Defining Biology of Primary Breast Lesions

Abstract

FDG-PET in the evaluation and management of cancer patients continues to increase, but its precise role in the management of breast carcinoma is yet to be clearly defined. This study investigated the utility of FDG- PET imaging features in defining biology of primary breast lesions. Patients with newly diagnosed breast carcinoma underwent multimodality imaging techniques, such as MRI, ultrasonography, digital mammography, CT, and ¹⁸F-FDG PET. Breast lesions were imaged twice at 63 minutes and 101 minutes. Maximum standardized uptake values were measured at both time points to analyze the data generated.  The percent change in the SUVs between the 2 time points was calculated. Unifactorial ANOVA of the three parameters among the primary lesions of these three groups were statistically significant for the mean SUVmax1 (p = 0.01) and SUVmax2 (p = 0.01). These values in the primary lesions were highest in those with both axillary and distant metastases, followed by those with only metastatic axillary adenopathy and patients without any metastasis. SUV measurements may provide valuable information about characterization of tumor biology. Such an association may be of importance to characterize and prognosticate the disease in these patients.