Performance of 18-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography for esophageal cancer screening

AIM To evaluate the performance of 18-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography(FDG-PET) for esophageal cancer(EC) screening.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the data of consecutive asymptomatic individuals who underwent FDG-PET and esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD) simultaneously for cancer screening at our institution from February 2004 to March 2013. In total, 14790 FDG-PET and EGD procedures performed for 8468 individuals were included in this study, and the performance of FDGPET for EC screening was assessed by comparing the results of FDG-PET and EGD, considering the latter as the reference.RESULTS Thirty-two EC lesions were detected in 28 individuals(31 squamous cell carcinomas and 1 adenocarcinoma). The median tumor size was 12.5 mm, and the depths of the lesions were as follows: Tis(n = 12), T1a(n = 15), and T1b(n = 5). Among the 14790 FDG-PET procedures, 51 examinations(0.3%) showed positive findings in the esophagus; only 1 was a true-positive finding. The screen sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of FDGPET for ECs were 3.6%(95%CI: 0.1-18.3), 99.7%(95%CI: 99.6-99.7), 2.0%(95%CI: 0.0-10.4), and 99.8%(95%CI: 99.7-99.9), respectively. Of the 50 FDG-PET false-positive cases, 31 were observed in the lower esophagus, and gastroesophageal reflux disease was observed in 17 of these 31 cases.CONCLUSION This study is the first to clarify the FDG-PET performance for EC screening. Based on the low screen sensitivity, FDG-PET is considered to be difficult to use as a screening modality for ECs.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma incidence and mortality in China in 2009

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is rare globally but common in China and exhibits a distinct ethnic and geographic distribution. In 2009, the National Central Cancer Registry in China provided real-time surveillance information on NPC. Individual NPC cases were retrieved from the national database based on the ICD-10 topography code C11. The crude incidence and mortality of NPC were calculated by sex and location (urban/rural). China's population in 1982 and Segi's world population structures were used to determine age-standardized rates. In regions covered by the cancer registries in 2009, the crude incidence of NPC was 3.61/100,000 (5.08/100,000 in males and 2.10/100,000 in females; 4.19/100,000 in urban areas and 2.42/100,000 in rural areas). Age-standardized incidences by Chinese population (ASIC) and Segi's world population (ASIW) were 2.05/100,000 and 2.54/100,000, respectively. The crude mortality of NPC was 1.99/100,000 (2.82/100,000 in males and 1.14/100,000 in females; 2.30/100,000 in urban areas and 1.37/100,000 in rural areas). The age-standardized mortalities by Chinese population (ASMC) and world population (ASMW) were 1.04/100,000 and 1.35/100,000, respectively. The incidence and mortality of NPC were higher in males than in females and higher in urban areas than in rural areas. Both agespecific incidence and mortality were relatively low in persons younger than 30 years old, but these rates dramatically increased. Incidence peaked in the 60-64 age group and mortality peaked in the over 85 age group. Primary and secondary prevention, such as lifestyle changes and early detection, should be carried out in males and females older than 30 years of age.

Endoscopic reduction of colocolonic intussusception due to metastatic malignant melanoma:A case report

BACKGROUND Intussusception rarely causes intestinal obstruction in adults.Metastatic malignant melanoma is the main cause of intussusception of the small intestine among adults.However,malignant melanoma rarely causes intussusception of the colorectum.Moreover,emergent surgery is usually performed for such cases.Here,we report a case of a patient with colocolonic intussusception caused by a malignant melanoma,for which endoscopic reduction and elective surgery were performed.CASE SUMMARY The patient was a 64-year-old woman who underwent multiple surgeries and received chemotherapy and immunotherapy for a malignant melanoma.During immunotherapy,she had abdominal pain,diarrhea,and bloody stool.Physical examination and laboratory studies did not reveal any findings that warranted emergent surgery.Computed tomography revealed intussusception in the descending colon without intestinal necrosis and perforation.Intussusception was reduced endoscopically,and elective surgery was performed.CONCLUSION This report suggests that endoscopic reduction and elective surgery constitute a treatment option for colocolonic intussusception of metastatic malignant melanomas.