Abstract
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Objectives: To investigate the correlation among the maximum standardized uptake value(SUVmax) on F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and tumor’s differentiation, size and Ki67 expression in patients with moderately and poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods: The F-18 FDG PET/CT imaging data of 187 patients with single HCC lesions which confirmed by pathology were evaluated retrospectively. Pathological characteristics of the tumor such as the largest tumor diameter, differentiation, Ki67 expression; SUVmax of primary tumor and the tumor to normal background ratio (TNR) were recorded. Results: Of the 187 lesions, 98 were classified into the moderately differentiated group, 52 lesions into the moderately-poorly differentiated group, and another 37 lesions into the poorly differentiated group. There were significant differences in the SUVmax and TNR among the three groups(P<0.0001). SUVmax was significantly correlated with differentiation(r=0.38457,P<0.0001). When the cases were categorized according to the maximum diameter of the tumor(group 1, ≤ 3 cm, n=70; group 2, > 3 and ≤ 5 cm, n=51; group 3, > 5 and ≤ 10 cm, n=43; group 4,> 10 cm, n=23), there were significant differences in the SUVmax and TNR among the four groups(P<0.0001). SUVmax was significantly correlated with tumor size(r=0.53727,P<0.0001). Of the 187 lesions, 102 were classified into the low Ki67 expression group, and the other 85 lesions into the high Ki67 expression group. There were significant differences in the SUVmax and TNR between the two groups(P<0.0001). SUVmax was significantly correlated with Ki67 expression(r=0. 37096,P<0.0001)[Figure 1:HCC of right lobe of liver(A~C,arrow),the maximum diameter of the tumor 4cm,differentiation grade II, Ki67 expression 25%;F-18 FDG PET/CT imaging,SUVmax 4.0 ,TNR 1.1.HCC of left lobe of liver(D~F,rrow),the maximum diameter of the tumor 12cm,differentiation grade III, Ki67expression 60%;F-18 FDG PET/CT imaging,SUVmax 15.4 ,TNR 6.2.].Conlcusions: In moderately and poorly differentiated HCCs, the SUVmax and TNR were significantly associated with tumor’s differentiation, size and Ki67expression.