Prognostic Value of Metabolic Tumor Volume and Total Lesion Glycolysis on Preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT in Patients With Very Early and Early Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this article was to evaluate the prognostic value of metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) on preoperative F-FDG PET/CT for predicting intrahepatic recurrence-free survival (IHRFS), extrahepatic metastasis-free survival (EHMFS), and overall survival (OS) in patients with very early/early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Patients and methods: We retrospectively enrolled 132 patients with very early/early HCC who underwent F-FDG PET/CT followed by surgery. The maximum tumor SUV-to-mean normal liver SUV ratio, MTV, and TLG were measured for each patient. Prognostic significances of PET/CT parameters and clinicopathologic factors for IHRFS, EHMFS, and OS were evaluated. Cumulative IHRFS, EHMFS, and OS were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results: Thirty-three (25%) and 21 (15.9%) of 132 patients experienced intrahepatic and extrahepatic recurrence, respectively, during a median follow-up period of 38.1 months. In multivariate analysis, none of the factors were significant for IHRFS. Metabolic tumor volume and TLG were only significant factors for EHMFS and OS (P < 0.05). The 5-year EHMFS rates were 94.8% in patients with low MTV and TLG, and 62.1% and 63.2% in patients with high MTV and TLG, respectively (P < 0.001). The 5-year OS rates were 92.6% and 92.4% in patients with low MTV and TLG, and 63.3% and 64.3% in patients with high MTV and TLG, respectively (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Metabolic tumor volume and TLG on preoperative PET/CT were independent prognostic factors for EHMFS and OS but not IHRFS in patients with very early/early HCC. Therefore, patients with high MTV or TLG should be closely observed for extrahepatic metastasis using systemic evaluations.