Imaging of Hypoxic Tumor: Correlation between Diffusion-weighted MR Imaging and F-fluoroazomycin Arabinoside Positron Emission Tomography in Head and Neck Carcinoma.

We investigated the usefulness of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for detecting changes in the structure of hypoxic cells by evaluating the correlation between F-fluoroazomycin arabinoside (FAZA) positron emission tomography activity and DWI parameters in head and neck carcinoma. The diffusion coefficient corresponding to the slow compartment of a two-compartment model had a significant positive correlation with FAZA activity (ρ = 0.58, P = 0.

Verification of the tumor volume delineation method using a fixed threshold of peak standardized uptake value.

We aimed to determine the difference in tumor volume associated with the reconstruction model in positron-emission tomography (PET). To reduce the influence of the reconstruction model, we suggested a method to measure the tumor volume using the relative threshold method with a fixed threshold based on peak standardized uptake value (SUV). The efficacy of our method was verified using F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose PET/computed tomography images of 20 patients with lung cancer.

Prognostic value of PET/CT with (18)F-fluoroazomycin arabinoside for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas receiving chemoradiotherapy.

Objective: The prognostic value of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with (18)F-fluoroazomycin arabinoside (FAZA) was evaluated in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who underwent chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Methods: Twenty-nine patients with head and neck cancer underwent FAZA PET/CT before treatment. Data acquisition started 2 h after FAZA administration.

Prognostic value of (18) F-fluoroazomycin arabinoside PET/CT in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

This study evaluated the prognostic value of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) using (18) F-fluoroazomycin arabinoside (FAZA) in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) compared with (18) F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). Thirty-eight patients with advanced NSCLC (stage III, 23 patients; stage IV, 15 patients) underwent FAZA and FDG PET/CT before treatment. The PET parameters (tumor-to-muscle ratio [T/M] at 1 and 2 h for FAZA, maximum standardized uptake value for FDG) in the primary lesion and lymph node (LN) metastasis and clinical parameters were compared concerning their effects on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Usefulness of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography as predictor of distant metastasis in preoperative carbon-ion radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of FDG-PET regarding the indication of preoperative carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) for pancreatic cancer patients.

Patients And Methods: Patients with resectable pancreatic cancer underwent preoperative CIRT. The impact of baseline SUVmax on prognosis for patients was assessed by analyzing correlations with distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) and overall survival (OS).

Accuracy of methionine-PET in predicting the efficacy of heavy-particle therapy on primary adenoid cystic carcinomas of the head and neck.

Background: We evaluated whether or not PET or PET/CT using L-methyl-[11C]-methionine (MET) can allow for the early prediction of local recurrence and metastasis, as well as the prognosis (disease-specific survival), in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck treated by carbon ion beam radiotherapy.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of sixty-seven patients who underwent a MET-PET or PET/CT study prior to and one month after the completion of carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT). The minimum follow-up period for survivors was 12 months.

Predictive value of 3'-deoxy-3'-[18F]fluorothymidine positron emission tomography/computed tomography for outcome of carbon ion radiotherapy in patients with head and neck mucosal malignant melanoma.

Objective: The purpose of this prospective study was to assess the prognostic value of 3'-deoxy-3'-[(18)F]fluorothymidine (FLT) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for the outcome of carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) in patients with mucosal malignant melanoma (MMM) of the head and neck.

Methods: Thirteen patients (69 ± 13 years) with histologically proven MMM tumor were enrolled. CIRT was performed with a total dose of 57.

PET/CT with 3'-deoxy-3'-[18F]fluorothymidine for lung cancer patients receiving carbon-ion radiotherapy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical value of 3'-deoxy-3'-[F]fluorothymidine-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FLT-PET/CT) for lung cancer patients receiving carbon-ion radiotherapy.

Methods: Twenty consecutive patients with lung cancer underwent FLT-PET/CT before and after carbon-ion radiotherapy. Fifty minutes after intravenous injection of approximately 300 MBq of FLT, PET/CT data were acquired.

Discrimination between low-grade oligodendrogliomas and diffuse astrocytoma with the aid of 11C-methionine positron emission tomography.

Object: The diagnostic usefulness of (11)C-methionine PET scans in gliomas is still controversial. The authors investigated the clinical significance of (11)C-methionine PET findings in preoperative diagnosis of histological type and grade.

Methods: The tissue uptake of (11)C-methionine was assessed using PET in 70 patients with histologically confirmed intracerebral gliomas.

Uptake decrease of proliferative PET tracer 18FLT in bone marrow after carbon ion therapy in lung cancer.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the change of 3'-[¹⁸F]fluoro-3'-deoxy-L: -thymidine (¹⁸FLT) uptake in normal bone marrow (BM) after inevitable radiation.

Procedures: Twenty-one non-small cell lung cancer patients who received carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) were studied with ¹⁸FLT-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) at pre- and post-CIRT. Radiation dose was calculated by radiation planning.

Role of glucose metabolism and cellularity for tumor malignancy evaluation using FDG-PET/CT and MRI.

Objective: Standardized uptake value (SUV) is affected by many factors. In that respect, the brain reference index (BRI: regions of interest of tumor/regions of interest of cerebellum) is one of the quantitative approaches to eliminate the variety of factors that affect SUV. MRI pulse sequence findings can also provide information about tissue cellularity.

A study on the prognostic evaluation of carbon ion radiotherapy for head and neck adenocarcinoma with C-11 methionine PET.

Purpose: Carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) has been developed, and a phase I/II CIRT trial has been conducted in patients with adenocarcinoma in the head and neck region. We evaluated whether the L-methyl [11C]-methionine (MET) uptake could be an early predictor for local recurrence, metastasis, and the prognosis in patients with adenocarcinoma in the head and neck region.

Methods: Twenty-six patients were prospectively studied by MET-positron emission tomography (PET) before and about 1 month after CIRT.

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration for lymph node staging in patients with non-small cell lung cancer in non-operable patients pursuing radiotherapy as a primary treatment.

Introduction: Carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) is a promising modality with excellent localization and significant biologic effects on tumors. Nevertheless, success depends primarily on accurate staging before radiotherapy. Surgical interventions should be avoided in patients considered for CIRT because they usually have multiple comorbidities.

Detection of bone metastases using diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging: comparison with (11)C-methionine PET and bone scintigraphy.

Purpose: We evaluated the ability of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to detect bone metastasis by comparing the results obtained using this modality with those obtained using (11)C-methionine (MET) positron emission tomography (PET) and bone scintigraphy.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study involved 29 patients with bone metastasis. DWI was obtained using a single-shot echo planar imaging (EPI) sequence with fat suppression using a short inversion time inversion recovery sequence.

Carbon-11-methionine PET imaging of choroidal melanoma and the time course after carbon ion beam radiotherapy.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of MET-PET as an evaluation method of the therapeutic effect of carbon ion beam radiotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-four choroidal melanoma patients who were treated with a carbon ion beam underwent at least three MET-PET scans before and after therapy. The uptake was visually and semiquantitatively evaluated on the basis of the tumor-to-brain ratio (TBR).

Molecular imaging of cancer: evaluating characters of individual cancer by PET/SPECT imaging.

The present status of cancer molecular imaging (MI) with nuclear medicine techniques is reviewed, highlighting the Japanese activities in this field. With the progress in MI research, including significant contributions from Japanese studies, it has become possible to noninvasively evaluate various important characters of cancer in clinical patients, such as metabolism, cellular proliferation, tumor hypoxia, and receptor expression. Tumor metabolic information is used for tumor characterization, treatment response evaluation, and prognosis prediction.

11C-methionine-PET for evaluation of carbon ion radiotherapy in patients with pelvic recurrence of rectal cancer.

Purpose: Progress of the novel carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) in the treatment of cancers has created the need for a method to accurately evaluate the response. We investigated whether L-[11C]methyl-methionine (11C-methionine) uptake at pre- and post-CIRT could be an early response predictor in patients with pelvic recurrence of rectal cancer.

Procedures: 11C-Methionine-positron emission tomography (PET) was performed prospectively in 53 patients with pelvic recurrence of rectal cancer before CIRT, and 48 patients were performed 11C-methionine PET at 1 month after CIRT.

Positron emission tomography for the diagnosis and management of patients with gastrointestinal malignancies.

F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) can play an important role in evaluating patients who have locally advanced diseases and in recurrence detection and restaging in patients who have gastrointestinal tract malignancies. Introduction of an integrated PET/CT system enabled the precise co-evaluation of function and morphology and improved the diagnostic ability of FDG-PET. Application of FDG-PET for treatment response evaluation and prognosis prediction is becoming important.

Carbon ion radiotherapy for stage I non-small cell lung cancer using a regimen of four fractions during 1 week.

Background: A phase I/II study was first conducted for the treatment of stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from 1994 to 1999 to determine the optimal dose. On the basis on the results, a phase II study using a regimen of four fractions during 1 week was performed. The purpose of the present study was to determine the local control and 5-year survival rates.

l-[METHYL-(11)C] methionine positron emission tomography for target delineation in malignant gliomas: impact on results of carbon ion radiotherapy.

Purpose: To assess the importance of (11)C-methionine (MET)-positron emission tomography (PET) for clinical target volume (CTV) delineation.

Methods And Materials: This retrospective study analyzed 16 patients with malignant glioma (4 patients, anaplastic astrocytoma; 12 patients, glioblastoma multiforme) treated with surgery and carbon ion radiotherapy from April 2002 to Nov 2005. The MET-PET target volume was compared with gross tumor volume and CTV, defined by using computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

[Positron emission tomography: basic principle and radionuclides/probes for metabolic/functional analysis].

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a functional imaging modality that can non-invasively visualize the distribution and dynamic movement of injected PET probes. In this article, the basic principle of PET technique is briefly explained followed by the introduction of various positron-emitters and PET probes used in clinical and research settings. With the coincidence detection of a pair of annihilation radiation emitted from positron emitters and the attenuation correction technique, PET can afford highly sensitive and quantitative data for analysis.

Clinical Results of Carbon Ion Radiotherapy at NIRS.

In 1994 a Phase I/II clinical study on carbon ion radiotherapy was begun at NIRS using HIMAC, which was then the world's only heavy ion accelerator complex dedicated to medical use in a hospital environment. Among several types of ion species, we have chosen carbon ions for cancer therapy because they had the most optimal properties in terms of possessing, both physically and biologically, the most effective dose-localization in the body. The purpose of the clinical study was to investigate the efficacy of carbon ion radiotherapy against a variety of tumors as well as to develop effective techniques for delivering an efficient dose to the tumor.