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The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate whether correlations exist between 18 F-FDG uptake of primary breast cancer lesions and predictive and prognostic factors such as estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and C-erbB-2 receptor (C-erbB-2R) states. Methods: Before undergoing partial or total mastectomy, 213 patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer underwent 18 F-FDG PET (5.2 MBq/kg of body weight). The maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) of the primary lesion was measured in each patient. Standard immunohistochemistry was performed on a surgical specimen of the cancer lesion to characterize the receptor state of the tumor cells. Pearson x 2 tests were performed on the cross-tables of different receptor states to test any association that may exist among ER, PR, and C-erbB-2R. Maximum SUV measurements for different receptor states were compared using factorial ANOVA in a completely random design. Results: After exclusion of certain lesions, 118 lesions were analyzed for this study. The mean maximum SUVs of ER-positive and ER-negative lesions were 3.03 6 0.26 and 5.64 6 0.75, whereas those of PR were 3.24 6 0.29 and 4.89 6 0.67, respectively, and those of C-erbB-2R were 4.64 6 0.70 and 3.70 6 0.35, respectively. x 2 tests for ER and PR showed that if one is positive then the other tends to be positive as well (x 2 5 71.054, P , 0.01). For ER and C-erbB-2R states, if ER is positive, C-erbB-2R will more likely be negative (x 2 5 13.026, P , 0.01). No relationship was detected between PR and C-erbB-2R states (x 2 5 3.695, P . 0.05). ANOVAs showed that PR state alone (F 5 0.095, P . 0.05) and C-erbB-2R state alone (F 5 0.097, P . 0.05) had no effect on 18 F-FDG uptake but ER state alone had an effect (F 5 9.126, P , 0.01). ER and PR being together had no additional effect on 18 F-FDG uptake. Our study also demonstrated that interactions exist between ER and C-erbB-2R state and between PR and C-erbB-2R state. Conclusion: SUV measurements may provide valuable information about the state of ER, PR, and C-erbB-2R and the associated glucose metabolism as measured by 18 F-FDG uptake of the primary breast cancer lesions. Such an association may be of importance to treatment planning and outcome in these patients.

There is an increasing uptake of (18)F-FDG over time in pleural malignancies, whereas the uptake in benign pleural disease generally stays stable or decreases over time. Therefore, dual time point imaging appears to be an effective approach in differentiating benign from malignant pleural disease, which increases the sensitivity and is also helpful in guiding the biopsy site for a successful diagnosis.

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Apoptosis count and scintigraphic results of this study confirm that mesenchymal stem cell treatment has a statistically significant benefit for the survival of the stasis zone in acute burn.

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123I scanning is comparable to high-dose 131I post-treatment imaging in thyroid carcinoma patients, and 123I offers excellent image quality as a diagnostic agent. It avoids disadvantages such as stunning before treatment and delivery of a high radiation dose to patients.

Theoretically, the degree of 18 F-FDG uptake in the glandular tissues of the normal breast can affect the detection of breast cancer. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate relationships among age, menopausal state, and breast density and determine whether they affect 18 F-FDG uptake in normal glandular breast tissue. Methods: Among 250 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, 149 patients (mean age 6 SD, 50.9 6 9.70 y; range, 32-77 y) were analyzed because they had normal contralateral breasts confirmed by MRI, mammography, and 18 F-FDG PET examinations. PET images were acquired 60 6 2 min after the administration of 18 F-FDG (5.2 MBq/kg of body weight). The maximum and average standardized uptake value (SUVmax and SUVavg, respectively) of 18 F-FDG were calculated in the normal breast. Patients were divided into groups according to qualitative breast density and menopausal state. Descriptive statistics and 2-factorial analysis of covariance were used to assess the effects of qualitative breast density, menopausal state, and age on SUVmax and SUVavg. Pearson x 2 was used to test the relationship between menopausal state and qualitative breast density. Results: The average age of patients with nondense breasts was significantly higher than that of patients with dense breasts (P , 0.01). Also, breast density related to menopausal state (P , 0.05). Dense breasts had an average SUVmax of 1.243 and mean SUVavg of 0.694, whereas nondense breasts had a mean SUVmax of 0.997 and mean SUVavg of 0.592. Analysis of covariance indicated that density and the linear effect of age were significant with regard to both SUVmax and SUVavg. After removing the linear effect of age, menopausal state had no effect on SUVmax and SUVavg. Conclusion: 18 F-FDG uptake significantly decreases as age increases and breast density decreases. Age and qualitative breast density are independent factors and significantly affect 18 F-FDG uptake for both SUVmax and SUVavg. Menopausal state had no effect on SUVmax and SUVavg.