Analysis of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography findings in patients with pituitary lesions
Authors
Hannah Seok ; Eun Young Lee ; Eun Yeong Choe ; Woo In Yang ; Joo Young Kim ; Dong Yeob Shin ; Ho Jin Cho ; Tae Sung Kim ; Mi Jin Yun ; Jong Doo Lee ; Eun Jig Lee ; Sung-Kil Lim ; Yumie Rhee
Citation
KOREAN JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, Vol.28(1) : 81-88, 2013
Adenoma/diagnostic imaging* ; Adenoma/pathology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Gland/diagnostic imaging* ; Pituitary Gland/pathology ; Pituitary Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; Pituitary Neoplasms/pathology ; Positron-Emission Tomography* ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Radiopharmaceuticals* ; Tumor Burden ; Young Adult
Keywords
Magnetic resonance imaging ; Pituitary ; Positron-emission tomography
Abstract
Background/Aims
Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a good visual modality for the evaluation of pituitary lesions, it has limited value in the diagnosis of mixed nodules and some cystic lesions. We evaluated the usefulness of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) for patients with pituitary lesions.
Methods
18F-FDG PET and MRI were performed simultaneously in 32 consecutive patients with pituitary lesions. The relationships between FDG uptake patterns in PET and MRI findings were analyzed.
Results
Of 24 patients with piuitary adenomas, 19 (79.2%) showed increased uptake of 18F-FDG in the pituitary gland on PET scans. All patients with pituitary macroadenomas showed increased 18F-FDG uptake on PET scans. Meanwhile, only five (50%) of the 10 patients with pituitary microadenomas showed positive PET scans. Interestingly, of two patients with no abnormal MRI findings, one showed increased 18F-FDG uptake on PET. For positive 18F-FDG uptake, maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) > 2.4 had 94.7% sensitivity and 100% specificity. In addition, SUVmax increased in proportion to the size of pituitary adenomas. Most cystic lesions did not show 18F-FDG uptake on PET scans.
Conclusions
About 80% of pituitary adenomas showed positivity on PET scans, and SUVmax was related to the size of the adenomas. PET may be used as an ancillary tool for detection and differentiation of pituitary lesions.