Comparison of Positron Emission Tomography, Computed Tomography, and Endoscopic Ultrasound in the Initial Staging of Patients with Esophageal Cancer

Introduction Improvement in esophageal cancer staging is needed. Positron emission tomography (PET), computed tomography (CT), and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the staging of esophageal carcinoma were compared. Methods PET, CT, and EUS were performed and interpreted prospectively in 75 patients with newly diagnosed esophageal cancer. Either tissue confirmation or fine needle aspiration (FNA) was used as the gold standard of disease. Sensitivity and specificity for tumor, nodal, and metastatic (TNM) disease for each test were determined. TNM categorizations from each test were used to assign patients to subgroups corresponding to the three treatment plans that patients could theoretically receive, and these were then compared. Results Local tumor staging (T) was done correctly by CT and PET in 42% and by EUS in 71% of patients (P value > 0.14). The sensitivity and specificity for nodal involvement (N) by modality were 84% and 67% for CT, 86% and 67% for EUS, and 82% and 60% for PET (P value > 0.38). The sensitivity and specificity for distant metastasis were 81% and 82% for CT, 73% and 86% for EUS, and 81% and 91% for PET (P value > 0.25). Treatment assignment was done correctly by CT in 65%, by EUS in 75%, and by PET in 70% of patients (P value > 0.34). Conclusions EUS had superior T staging ability over PET and CT in our study group. The tests showed similar performance in nodal staging and there was a trend toward improved distant disease staging with CT or PET over EUS. Assignment to treatment groups in relation to TNM staging tended to be better by EUS. Each test contributed unique patient staging information on an individual basis. This work was presented in part at The Society of Nuclear Medicine Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA June 15–19, 2002.     

内镜超声检查对胃癌浸润深度淋巴结状况和可切除性术前评估的价值

目的 :探讨内镜超声检查 (EUS)在术前判断胃癌浸润深度、淋巴结状况和可切除性中的临床应用价值。方法 :对经胃镜活检证实的胃癌 12 4例术前行内镜超声检查 ,并与术后病理检查结果对照。结果 :EUS对胃癌 T分期 (浸润深度 )的判断准确率为 82 .4 % ,其中 T1 期为 86 .2 % ,T2 期为 72 .7% ,T3期为 88.9% ,T4 期为 73.9% ,其中 EUS鉴别粘膜和粘膜下癌的准确率为 6 5 .5 %。EUS对胃癌淋巴结状况的判断准确率、淋巴结转移的敏感性和特异性分别为 82 .1%、76 .3%和 89.4 %。EUS判断胃癌可切除性的敏感性和特异性分别为 98.1%和 77.8%。结论 :内镜超声检查对胃癌浸润深度、淋巴结状况和可切除性的术前评估具有较高的临床应用价值。     

Staging of pancreatic cancer with multidetector CT in the setting of preoperative chemoradiation therapy

Background Preoperative chemoradiation can potentially improve outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer. This study addresses its effect on staging pancreatic cancer with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). Methods Fifty-five patients underwent a dual-phase MDCT pancreas protocol for proved pancreatic cancer. Of these, 16 patients underwent preoperative chemoradiation. Three radiologists independently reviewed images to assess for locally advanced disease, liver and peritoneal metastases on baseline studies of all 55 patients, and on follow-up preoperative studies for the 16 patients receiving preoperative therapy. Overall score for resectability was graded on a scale from 1 to 5 (1, definitely resectable; 5. definitely unresectable). Receiver operating characteristic curves and weighted (κ statistics were determined. Results The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for readers 1, 2, and 3 were 0.98, 0.96, and 0.90, respectively. Weighted κ values for reader 1 versus reader 2, reader 1 versus reader 3, and reader 2 versus reader 3 were 0.90, 0.57, and 0.54, respectively. Interpreting scores of 1 to 3 for resectability as resectable disease, the mean values for sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value, and accuracy were 0.92, 0.91, 0.74, 0.98, and 0.92 respectively. Conclusion The negative predictive value for MDCT for identifying unresectable pancreatic cancer in the setting of preoperative therapy is comparable to that reported in the absence of neoadjuvant therapy.     

Pancreatic head cancer: accuracy of CT in determination of resectability

Background Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease whose early detection remains difficult. There is no 100% reliable imaging test to diagnose and stage pancreatic cancer. We assessed the surgical value of contrast-enhanced spiral computed tomography (CT) in predicting the resectability and survival rates of patients who had pancreatic head cancer.Methods Eighty-nine patients who had pancreatic head cancer were investigated with spiral CT. Based on the preoperative CT results, we assigned patients to one of three CT groups based on resectability.Results A correlation between classification of CT resectability and intraoperative finding was found in 83% of patients. The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value, and accuracy of spiral CT in identifying predictive unresectability were 79%, 82%, 91%, 62%, and 81%, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of CT in diagnosis of vascular invasion were 94%, 84.2%, 94%, 84%, and 91.3%, respectively.Conclusion The use of CT in the evaluation of pancreatic tumors provides valuable preoperative assessment of surgical resectability and should be performed for clinical examination. Classifying patients by tumor resectability on CT helps to estimate more precisely the tumor stage and to prognosticate survival rates of these patients.     

18FDG PET/CT与增强CT对胰腺癌分期的价值

目的比较PET/CT与增强CT(CECT)对胰腺癌T和N分期的准确性;探讨PET/CT对胰腺癌治疗前M分期的影响以及最大标准摄取(SUVmax)值与远处转移的关系。方法收集经病理或临床、影像学随诊证实的胰腺癌患者46例,术前全部患者接受PET/CT检查,43例并接受CECT检查,中位间隔时间为6天;对接受手术切除或探查的19例患者以手术所见为参照,比较PET/CT与CECT检查对胰腺癌T和N分期的准确率。结果 19例胰腺癌患者术中发现肿瘤与周围血管粘连或侵犯周围血管/器官,术前CECT明确诊断17例(17/18,94.44%),PET/CT明确诊断3例(3/19,15.79%),CECT对T分期的准确率高于PET/CT。对于N分期,CECT和PET/CT的敏感度、特异度和准确率分别为66.67%(8/12)、100%(7/7)、78.95%(15/19)和75.00%(9/12)、100%(7/7)和84.21%(16/19),二者诊断区域淋巴结转移差异无统计学意义(P=1.00)。46例胰腺癌患者中,PET/CT发现28例血行转移及远隔淋巴结转移,常规影像学分期检出其中的15例。PET/CT明确诊断了5例CT不能肯定的肝脏病灶,并发现2例患者同时存在第二原发癌;ROC曲线分析表明,SUVmax越高,发生血行转移的可能越大,其曲线下面积为0.68,诊断界值为4.80。结论 PET/CT对胰腺癌T分期的准确率远低于CECT;PET/CT和CECT对N分期的敏感度、特异度、准确率相似;PET/CT对M分期和远隔淋巴结转移具有明显优势,并可同时发现第二原发癌灶,SUVmax越高,发生血行转移的可能越大。     

螺旋CT扫描结合CA19-9检测在胰腺癌术前分期中的探讨

目的探讨螺旋CT双期扫描结合CAl9-9对判断胰腺癌可切除性方面的价值。方法回顾性收集37例在我院行螺旋CT双期扫描并经手术病理证实的患者，全部患者均有术前血清CAl9-9检测结果。结果CT对胰腺癌不可切除的判断准确率高达100％，对可切除性判断准确率只有78．57％。胰腺癌病人中CAl9-9的阳性率为82．86％，CAl9-9与肿瘤大小有关；CAl9—9在可切除组与不可切除组间存在显著性差异。结论螺旋CT结合CAl9-9在判定胰腺癌不可切除性方面有一定价值，尚不能得出CAl9-9对协助CT判定胰腺癌可切除性方面有肯定意义的结论。     

Impact of endoscopic ultrasound combined with fine-needle aspiration biopsy in the management of esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in combination with fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) is a highly accurate method for the preoperative staging of esophageal cancer. Its impact on medical decision-making and the cost of care is unknown. This prospective case series was undertaken in order to determine the impact of EUS in combination with FNA on patients' choice of therapy and on the cost of care. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty consecutive patients with esophageal cancer, referred for preoperative EUS staging in a large tertiary-care academic medical center, were enrolled. The accuracy of EUS, the impact of EUS-based staging on the patients' choice of therapy, and costs were studied. RESULTS: The accuracy rates for EUS combined with FNA in tumor and lymph-node staging were 83 % and 89 %, respectively. Twenty-five patients (42 %) had EUS stage I and II and were candidates for curative surgery. Twenty-eight patients (47 %) had stage III, and seven (12 %) had stage IV. All patients with stage I had surgery, while all patients with stage IV had medical therapy. The majority (62 %) of patients with stage II had surgery, while only a minority (25 %) of patients with stage III had surgery. Thirty-six patients (60 %) underwent medical therapy. Patients' medical decisions in favor of surgical or medical therapy correlated strongly with the results of their EUS staging ( P = 0.005), but not with age, sex, or referring physicians (surgeons vs. nonsurgeons). EUS-guided therapy potentially decreased the cost of care by $ 740 424 ($ 12 340/patient) by reducing the number of thoracotomies. CONCLUSIONS: Patients' decisions regarding therapy correlated with their overall tumor staging, suggesting that the information provided by EUS played a significant role in patients' decision-making. The use of EUS in combination with FNA reduces the cost of managing patients with esophageal cancer.     

Preoperative evaluation of Klatskin tumor: accuracy of spiral CT in determining vascular invasion as a sign of unresectability

Background: To assess the accuracy of spiral computed tomography (CT) in predicting the resectability of Klatskin tumor as determined by vascular invasion. Methods: Twenty-one consecutive patients with Klatskin tumor who had undergone laparotomy were included in this study. The preoperative thin-section (5-mm-thick) spiral CT scans of these patients were assessed for the surgical resectability of tumor by evaluating the vascular invasion. The criterion for vascular invasion indicating unresectability was the tumoral invasion of the proper hepatic artery or main portal vein or simultaneous invasion of one side of the hepatic artery and the other side of the portal vein. Results: All nine patients with tumors thought to be unresectable on the basis of CT findings had tumors that were unresectable at surgery (positive predictive value, 100%). Of 12 patients with tumors thought to be resectable, six had resectable tumors (negative predictive value, 50%). Spiral CT failed to detect small hepatic metastasis (n= 1), lymph node metastasis (n= 1), extensive tumor (n= 2) and variation of bile duct (n= 2), which precluded surgical resection. Conclusion: Spiral CT is a reliable method for detecting vascular invasion and unresectable tumors. However, it has limitations in detecting variations of the bile duct or the intraductal extent of tumor. Received: 24 November 1999/Accepted: 26 January 2000     

Endorectal surface coil MR imaging as a staging technique for rectal carcinoma: a comparison study to rectal endosonography

Background: Preoperative staging of rectal cancer is critical for guiding therapy and prescribing the most appropriate treatment option. The purpose of this investigation was to compare the accuracy of endorectal surface coil magnetic resonance imaging (ERSCMRI) with endosonography (EUS) in staging rectal lesions. Methods: Fourteen patients with rectal carcinoma, initially detected by barium enema or sigmoidoscopy underwent ERSCMRI and EUS. Subsequent resection of the lesions was performed, and the staging accuracies of these two modalities are compared. Results: MR T-staging agreement with pathologic T-staging was similar to that of EUS, but MR enabled more accurate identification of nodal involvement. Conclusion: ERSCMRI produced greater overall accuracy in staging for rectal carcinoma than did EUS. Received: 10 September 1998/Revision accepted: 10 February 1999     

螺旋CT双相扫描对胰腺癌可切除性的评价

目的前瞻性评价双相螺旋CT（HCT）术前预测胰腺癌可切除性的诊断价值。方法应朋对比剂增强HCT对57例疑似胰腺癌病例进行双相扫描，并对其中28例手术病理证实的胰腺癌病人的术前诊断和分期进行研究。结果28例胰腺癌经外科探查，17例进行根治性切除，7例进行姑息手术。可切除性的阳性预测值为70．8％。7例CT发现可切除的病例，因血管侵犯（5例）、淋巴结转移（2例），术中未能切除。HCT作为判定胰腺癌可切除性的总的精确率为75％（21／28）。结论双相HCT扫描技术是胰腺癌术前分期和可切除性判断的一项有用方法。     

CT prediction of irresectability in esophageal carcinoma: value of additional patient positions and relation to patient outcome

Background: To improve computed tomographic (CT) prediction of local irresectability and to correlate preoperative CT findings with patient outcome. Methods: Eighty-five patients with esophageal carcinoma underwent CT in supine, left lateral decubitus, and prone positions. CT signs that were indicative of local irresectability included (1) an angle of contact >45° with the aorta; (2) obliteration of triangular fat pad between the tumor, aorta, and spine; (3) tumor contiguous with the aorta in all three positions; and (4) indentation of the airway in all three positions. Results: All CT signs indicative for local irresectability concerning the aorta had comparable percentages of false-positive scans (75%) when correlated with surgical findings. When correlated with pathologic findings, >45° angle of contact with the aorta yielded the fewest false-positive cases (9%). Concerning the airway, additional positions changed the staging correctly in 1 of 18 cases. Median survival was 21 and 8 months, respectively, for tumors considered CT resectable or irresectable. Conclusion: Additional patient positions do not improve the CT prediction of aortic invasion. Predicted resectability correlates with a significant longer life expectancy. Received: 29 January 1996/Accepted: 13 March 1996     

PET-CT detection of abdominal recurrence of ovarian cancer: radiologic–surgical correlation

The diagnosis of recurrent ovarian cancer can be difficult on cross-sectional imaging, and variable sensitivities and specificities have been reported for positron emission tomography (PET). Combined functional and anatomic imaging with PET plus computed tomography (CT) potentially allows for improved detection of tumor masses. We investigated the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of PET-CT for the diagnosis of recurrent ovarian cancer. Sixteen women with previously treated ovarian cancer underwent imaging on a combined PET-CT scanner followed by surgery to assess for possible recurrent disease. The fused PET-CT images were retrospectively reviewed for recurrent disease, and the results of PET-CT were compared with the operative notes. Eleven of the 16 patients had recurrent disease at surgery. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of PET-CT for disease detection on a per-patient basis were 72.7%, 40%, and 62.5%, respectively. For cases of malignant adenopathy (n = 7), 100% were detected on PET-CT. For peritoneal lesions no larger than 1 cm (n = 23), 13% were detected on PET-CT. For peritoneal lesions larger than 1 cm (n = 8), 50% were detected on PET-CT. The sensitivity of PET-CT for recurrent ovarian cancer is moderate in patients with low volume disease. A trial involving a larger number of patients with a spectrum of disease volumes is necessary to determine the impact of PET-CT in clinical practice.     

超声造影与超声内镜在膀胱癌临床分期中的价值

目的对比分析术前超声造影与超声内镜在膀胱癌临床分期中的应用价值。方法选取我院收治的膀胱癌患者97例,均行超声造影和超声内镜检查,术后均行病理诊断和分期。以患者病理分期结果为金标准,比较超声造影和超声内镜对膀胱癌临床分期的诊断符合率;绘制受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线,比较两种检查方法在膀胱癌临床分期中的价值。结果病理分期结果显示,97例膀胱癌患者T1、T2、T3、T4期分别为27、23、30、17例,超声造影和超声内镜对T1~T4期的诊断符合率分别为77.78%、86.96%、56.67%、88.24%和74.07%、65.22%、36.67%、17.65%,两种检查方法对T1、T2、T3期的诊断符合率比较差异无统计学意义,超声造影对T4期的诊断符合率高于超声内镜(P<0.05)。ROC曲线分析显示,超声造影诊断T4期膀胱癌的敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值、阴性预测值、曲线下面积分别为87.50%、82.35%、58.33%、95.89%、0.849,均高于超声内镜(67.50%、64.71%、29.73%、90.00%、0.661),差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。结论术前超声造影与超声内镜均可用于膀胱癌临床分期,但超声造影在T4期膀胱癌患者中的诊断价值更高。     

64排螺旋CT结肠成像评价结直肠癌术前TN分期

目的 分析探讨64排螺旋CT结肠成像(CTC)对结直肠癌术前TN分期的价值.方法 对168例疑诊结直肠病变者进行CT扫描,其中91例有手术病理、增强CT扫描等完整资料,将影像诊断TN分期结果 与手术病理TN分期结果进行对比分析.结果 T分期总准确率为92.31%(84/91),评价肿瘤浆膜外侵犯的灵敏度、特异度分别为98.57%(69/70)和85.00%(17/20),阳性预测值和阴性预测值分别为95.83%(69/72)和94.44%(17/18).N分期总的准确率为82.42%(75/91),评价淋巴结转移的灵敏度、特异度分别为87.80%(36/41)和96.00%(48/50),阳性预测值和阴性预测值分别为94.74%(36/38)和90.57%(48/53).结论 64排螺旋CTC对结直肠癌的术前分期有重要价值.     

Role of endoscopic ultrasound in the diagnosis and staging of pancreatic cancer

Early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer remains a difficult task, and multiple imaging tests have been proposed over the years. The aim of this review is to describe the current role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for the diagnosis and staging of patients with pancreatic cancer. A detailed search of MEDLINE between 1980 and 2007 was performed using the following keywords: pancreatic cancer, endoscopic ultrasound, diagnosis, and staging. References of the selected articles were also browsed and consulted. Despite progress made with other imaging methods, EUS is still considered to be superior for the detection of clinically suspected lesions, especially if the results of other cross-sectional imaging modalities are equivocal. The major advantage of EUS is the high negative predictive value that approaches 100%, indicating that the absence of a focal mass reliably excludes pancreatic cancer. The introduction of EUS-guided fine needle aspiration allows a preoperative diagnosis in patients with resectable cancer, as well as a confirmation of diagnosis before chemoradiotherapy for those that are not. This comprehensive review highlighted the diagnostic capabilities of EUS including the newest refinements such as contrast-enhanced EUS, EUS elastography, and 3-dimensional EUS. The place of EUS-guided biopsy is also emphasized, including the addition of molecular marker techniques.     

肿瘤与血管接触三级评价法在胰腺癌术前评价中的价值

目的 探讨多排螺旋CT(multidetector CT,MDCT)肿瘤与血管接触(tumor vessel contact,TVC)三级评价法在胰腺癌术前评价中的应用价值.方法 选取2017年1月至2019年3月在河南省南阳市中心医院行手术治疗的胰腺癌患者80例,术前给予MDCT检查,比较TVC三级评价法与手术探查结...     

Vascular invasion in pancreatic cancer

The evaluation of resectability in patients with pancreatic cancer remains a diagnostic challenge, especially regarding the preoperative assessment of vascular invasion. Thin-slice multiplanar reconstructions obtained with multislice helical computed tomography provide an exact depiction of the spatial relation between the tumor and the potentially invaded vessels and thus have the capability to improve the assessment of local resectability.     

Endolumenal ultrasonography in the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases

We evaluated the usefulness and limitations of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in pancreatic mass lesions. EUS was useful in detecting small pancreatic mass lesions, especially ductal adenocarcinomas smaller than 20 mm and small islet cell tumors smaller than 10 mm. In some of these cases, characteristic echo patterns were specific and useful for differential diagnosis from focal pancreatitis. However, when EUS did not clearly delineate a tumor at the stenotic area of the main pancreatic duct, transpapillary pancreatoscopy and biopsy/cytology were sometimes effective to obtain a definitive diagnosis. EUS fine-needle aspiration should be performed in conjunction with imaging modalities when the differential diagnosis of a pancreatic mass is difficult to make. Although the value of EUS in cancer staging was overestimated, EUS in conjunction with spiral computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging should be performed for such a purpose. Usefulness and limitations of intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) also were evaluated. IDUS was useful in detecting carcinoma in situ and small tumors and in assessing parenchymal invasion and the intraductal spread of the tumor. IDUS was also useful in accurately localizing islet cell tumor and in differentiating benign from malignant cases of localized stenosis of the main pancreatic duct. Thus, EUS and IDUS are indispensable modalities in the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases.     

TNM staging of gastrointestinal tumors by hydrosonography: results of a histopathologically controlled study in 60 patients

Background: The study is a prospective evaluation of preoperative TNM staging of gastrointestinal tumors by hydrosonography (HUS). Methods: Sixty patients with suspected gastric or colorectal cancer underwent HUS for TNM staging. All patients were operated on and the tumors completely removed when possible. HUS findings were correlated with histopathologic staging. Results: HUS correctly localized tumors in 75% of patients. T stage accuracy was low for gastric cancers (41%). N staging of gastric cancers was accurate in 68% of all cases and was highly specific (100%). Staging was more accurate for colorectal tumors (70%), especially with respect to infiltration of other structures (sensitivity 100%, specificity 95%). N staging, however, was not reliable, mostly owing to impaired examination conditions. Conclusion: HUS easily misses tumors of the gastric cardia and distal part of the rectum. T staging of colorectal tumors with HUS is highly accurate, reaching 92% if the tumor is localized. T1 cancers of the stomach tend to be overstaged, and serosal infiltration by gastric cancers is often misjudged. With the exception of cardial gastric and distal rectal cancers, HUS comes close to endosonography for staging gastrointestinal tumors. HUS does not require intraluminal access. Received: 9 May 1995/Accepted after revision: 15 August 1995     

CT与彩超对胰腺癌手术切除性的联合估价

目的：采用CT与彩色多普勒血流显像（CDFI）联合法对胰腺癌的可切除性进行术前瞻性评价，以确定其准确性及临床应用价值。材料与方法：1998-2000年经手术及病理证实的43例胰腺癌仅行CT检查40例，CDFI检查36例，其中33例行CT和CDFI联合检查。43例胰腺癌的可切除性评估由两名影像专家进行分析，以手术及病理结果作为标准，评价联合法的诊断价值。结果：43例胰腺癌，经手术探查和病理诊断，14例可根治切除，29例不可根治切除。CT、CDFI及CT与CDFI联合法评估的准确性分别为77.50%，77.78%，87.88%。故在评价胰腺癌可切除性方面联合法的准确性优于单一法。结论：本研究表明，在对胰腺癌可切除性的评估中，CT扫描与CDFI联合法弥补了彼此检查法不足，能够更为准确、全面地评价胰腺癌的可切除性，具有较高的价值。