SPECT检测乳腺癌骨骼转移的效果优于FDG PET

根据一项最新研究发现，在鉴别已经出现骨骼转移的乳腺癌方面，骨骼单光子发射计算机断层扫描(SPECT)优于氟脱氧葡萄糖正电子发射断层扫描(FDG PET)。

FDG PET检测的原理是：肿瘤细胞葡萄糖代谢增加。SPECT检测放射活性药物（药物由临床医生给予）摄入区域。SPECT能够发现骨骼转移性肿瘤的位置，而PET做不到这一点。除此之外，骨骼SPECT能够鉴别出肿瘤细胞破坏后再生的骨骼区域。

这项研究结果发表在2005年4月的《美国X线学期刊》之上，来自日本Shizuoka癌症中心医院的科学家评估了15例乳腺癌患者的总共900份骨骼检查结果，这些患者接受了PET以及SPECT扫描检查。研究人员发现：在鉴别骨骼转移性肿瘤方面，SPECT敏感性为85％，精确性为96％；PET敏感性仅仅为17％，精确性为85％。他们还发现PET只能显示特定类型的肿瘤。

该项研究首席作者Takayoshi Uematsu医生说：“骨骼是乳腺癌转移的最常见部位。高达90％的死于乳腺癌的患者由远处骨骼转移。在乳腺癌初始部位得到治疗后，骨骼是复发频率最高的部位。”

根据研究人员的说法，确定何种影像检查技术对特定疾病的检查效果最佳，对患者的治疗是十分必要的。Uematsu医生说：“对骨骼转移瘤的早期诊断与治疗能够改善乳腺癌患者的预后，适合的影像检查方法能够帮助进行早期检测骨骼转移瘤。”

SPECT Better than FDG PET for Identifying Bone Metastases in Breast Cancer
 
Bone single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is superior to fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) for identifying breast cancer that has metastasized to an individual’s bones, according to new research.

FDG PET is a method that is based on increased metabolism of glucose in tumor cells. SPECT detects areas of radioactive agent uptake that is administered by a clinician. SPECT can demonstrate the site of bone metastases, while PET cannot. Additionally, bone SPECT can identify where bone is being regenerated after destruction by tumor cells.

In the study, which was published in the April 2005 issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology, scientists from Shizuoka Cancer Center Hospital (Japan) assessed the results in a total of 900 bones in 15 patients with breast cancer who underwent both PET and SPECT scanning.

The researchers discovered that SPECT had a sensitivity of 85% and an accuracy of 96% for identifying bone metastases, while PET had a sensitivity of only 17% and an accuracy of 85%. They also found that PET was limited in its capability to show specific types of tumors.

“Bone is the most common site of breast cancer metastasis. Up to 90% of patients dying with distant breast cancer have bone metastases. Bone is also the most frequent recurrence site after treatment for primary breast cancer,” said Takayoshi Uematsu, M.D., lead author of the study.

Determining which imaging technique is the best for a specific disorder is essential in treating the patient, according to the researchers. “Early diagnosis and treatment of bone metastases might improve outcomes in breast cancer patients, and the appropriate imaging method is able to assist in the early detection of bone metastases,” said Dr. Uematsu.