Impact of renal function on average hepatic standardized uptake value (SUVavg)

Objectives To assess the impact of renal function on average hepatic SUV in adult population.

Methods A retrospective analysis of 97 oncology patient undergoing clinical whole body 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging at our institution. A 3cm VOI was drawn over the right hepatic lobe and SUV value adjusted for lean body mass was recored (PERCIST 1.0 Guidelines). Serum creatinine analysis performed within four weeks of whole body imaging was included. History of diabetes and other chronic renal disorder was noted.

Results A total of 83 patients were without history of a diabetes. 14 patients with history of diabetes without renal dysfunction were evaluated separately. Demographic data were 41 Females, 42 males, mean age 55. In non-diabteic patients, mean hepatic SUV (lean body mass)level was 1.5, mean creatinine was 0.8 and mean serum glucose value was 98mg/dL. Overall, there was a positive correlation (r = 0.3) between serum creatinine and average hepatic SUV (p = < 0.01). In age groups below the age of 40 years, a moderate to strong correlation was noted between serum creatinine and hepatic SUVavg (r = 0.66, p = 0.02). However, no such correlation was noted in patients over the age of 40. In non-diabetic patients, there was no correlation between serum glucose and average hepatic SUV. A weak positive correlation was noted with age ( r = 0.22, p = 0.03). In patients with diabetes, but without renal dysfunction (normal range creatinine), a weak positive correlation was also noted ( r = 0.36) between serum creatinine and hepatic average SUV.

Conclusions Mean lean hepatic SUV is significantly correlated with serum creatinine