Background:We aimed to identify predictive factors for positron emission tomography(PET)-detected hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)metastasis and a cost-effective approach to preoperative PET-computed tomography(CT)for de...Background:We aimed to identify predictive factors for positron emission tomography(PET)-detected hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)metastasis and a cost-effective approach to preoperative PET-computed tomography(CT)for detecting metastasis.Methods:Clinicopathological and survival data of HCC patients having PET-CT with 18F-fludeoxyglucose(FDG)and 11C-acetate(ACT)following contrast-enhanced CT/magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)for preoperative tumor staging were reviewed.Binary logistic regression was performed to identify predictive factors for PET-detected metastasis.A cost-benefit analysis model was built for the incurred costs and the impact of PET-CT findings on treatment strategy was studied.Results:Totally 152 patients were analyzed.Dual-tracer PET-CT detected metastasis in 17 patients(11%).By multivariate analysis,alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)≥400 ng/mL[relative risk(RR):4.30,95%confidence interval(CI):1.41-13.15,P=0.011]and bilobar disease(RR:3.94,95%CI:1.24-12.52,P=0.014)were independent predictive factors for PET-detected metastasis.PET-CT findings altered the treatment strategy for 12 patients(7.9%);three partial hepatectomies,eight episodes of transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)and one episode of ablation were avoided,with an estimated cost-saving of US$91,000,$150,000 and$10,600 respectively.Had the PET-CT been performed only for patients with AFP≥400 ng/mL or bilobar disease(n=74),metastasis would have been confirmed in 14 patients(18.9%),and the cost-saving per patient was estimated at US$1,070.Conclusions:Dual-tracer PET-CT is cost-effective and useful for preoperative HCC staging in patients with AFP≥400 ng/mL or bilobar disease.Its routine use in preoperative workup for all HCC patients is not recommended.Unilobar disease with AFP<400 ng/mL can achieve good negative predictive value for PET-detected metastasis.Screening patients with either factor can avoid unnecessary procedures and is thus cost-effective for preoperative HCC workup.展开更多
基金This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Hong Kong/Hospital Authority Hong Kong West Cluster(IRB Reference Number:UW 19-315).
文摘Background:We aimed to identify predictive factors for positron emission tomography(PET)-detected hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)metastasis and a cost-effective approach to preoperative PET-computed tomography(CT)for detecting metastasis.Methods:Clinicopathological and survival data of HCC patients having PET-CT with 18F-fludeoxyglucose(FDG)and 11C-acetate(ACT)following contrast-enhanced CT/magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)for preoperative tumor staging were reviewed.Binary logistic regression was performed to identify predictive factors for PET-detected metastasis.A cost-benefit analysis model was built for the incurred costs and the impact of PET-CT findings on treatment strategy was studied.Results:Totally 152 patients were analyzed.Dual-tracer PET-CT detected metastasis in 17 patients(11%).By multivariate analysis,alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)≥400 ng/mL[relative risk(RR):4.30,95%confidence interval(CI):1.41-13.15,P=0.011]and bilobar disease(RR:3.94,95%CI:1.24-12.52,P=0.014)were independent predictive factors for PET-detected metastasis.PET-CT findings altered the treatment strategy for 12 patients(7.9%);three partial hepatectomies,eight episodes of transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)and one episode of ablation were avoided,with an estimated cost-saving of US$91,000,$150,000 and$10,600 respectively.Had the PET-CT been performed only for patients with AFP≥400 ng/mL or bilobar disease(n=74),metastasis would have been confirmed in 14 patients(18.9%),and the cost-saving per patient was estimated at US$1,070.Conclusions:Dual-tracer PET-CT is cost-effective and useful for preoperative HCC staging in patients with AFP≥400 ng/mL or bilobar disease.Its routine use in preoperative workup for all HCC patients is not recommended.Unilobar disease with AFP<400 ng/mL can achieve good negative predictive value for PET-detected metastasis.Screening patients with either factor can avoid unnecessary procedures and is thus cost-effective for preoperative HCC workup.
