Relationship between lymph node metastasis and a low 18F-FDG PET/CT axillary SUVmax value in breast cancer

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate breast cancer patients with low F18-fluorodeoxy-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan (FPET) of axilla standardised maximum uptake value (SUVmax) along with their histopathological findings regarding axillary lymph node metastasis (LNM). Study Design: A descriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: Adana City Education and Research Hospital, Turkey, from January 2015 to October 2018. Methodology: The current study analysed the findings of 113 patients according to age, histopathological axillary LNM, estrogen and progesterone receptor status, tumour size, histological grade, Ki-67, HER2 and preoperative FPET SUVmax findings. Histopathological and immunohistochemical comparisons were made between FPET axilla SUVmax and univariate and multivariate parameters in breast carcinoma in terms of LNM. Results: The authors analysed the receiver operator characteristic curve for the FPET axilla SUVmax and set the cut-off value to 1.84 to predict LNM. However, it was also found that the SUVmax detected metastases in the axilla at values lower than 1.84. In the multivariate analysis, a statistically significant relationship was found between axilla LNM cases that have FPET axilla SUVmax less than 1.84, a Ki-67 index greater than 15% and tumour size greater than 2 cm (p <0.05). Conclusion: Values that were above the axilla SUVmax limit of 1.84 in FPET helped determine LNM. However, further evaluation of patients is needed comparing axilla SUVmax of less than 1.84 in FPET together with the Ki-67 proliferation index and tumour size.