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Journal Articles on Mesothelioma: Cancer Information for Patients and Families

Archive for the 'PET Scan' Category

Positron emission tomography; a computer-generated image of organs and other internal structures generated by through the detection of radiated positrons, emitted from a specific substance administered to the patient.

PET Scan news feed.

December 2nd, 2008. Monitoring of Chemotherapy Response in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Using Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography

The tumor lesion exhibited shrinkage on CT and a decrease in the standardized uptake value (SUV) max after the first course of chemotherapy, but exhibited size enlargement and an increase in SUV max after the second course of chemotherapy. These findings suggest that results of quantification of metabolic response by FDG-PET are related to the objective response as determined by CT in patients with MPM.

November 26th, 2008. Comparison of semiquantitative fluorescence imaging and PET tracer uptake in mesothelioma models as a monitoring system for growth and therapeutic effects

Conclusion: Fluorescence imaging could be used to semiquantitatively monitor tumor size, whereas PET could be used to monitor tumor response to therapeutic treatments, and especially, FLT might be a good marker of the response to anti-folate chemotherapeutics.

September 19th, 2008. Preoperative staging of mesothelioma by 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography fused imaging and mediastinoscopy compared to pathological findings after extrapleural pneumonectomy

Conclusions: Non-curative surgery is avoided in 29% out of 42 MPM patients by preoperative PET/CT and in further 14% by mediastinoscopy. Even though both procedures are valuable, there are false negative findings with both, urging for even more accurate staging procedures.

September 16th, 2008. Computed Tomography, Positron Emission Tomography, Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Staging of Limited Pleural Mesothelioma: Initial Results

Conclusion: PET/CT makes it possible to stage patients with limited MPM with high accuracy and low interobserver variability.

September 9th, 2008. Clinical consequences of asbestos-related diffuse pleural thickening: A review

It causes a restrictive defect on lung function and may rarely result in respiratory failure and death. Treatment is primarily supportive.

August 1st, 2008. Imaging of primary malignant tumors of peritoneal and retroperitoneal origin

However, the imaging features of these primary tumors, in combination with the clinical and demographic data, can be utilized to narrow the scope of the differential diagnosis. This chapter will present the clinical and imaging features of primary peritoneal and retroperitoneal tumors arising from the various tissue components that comprise the ligaments, mesenteries and connective tissues of these anatomic spaces.

June 28th, 2008. Soluble Mesothelin Related Protein (SMRP) in an Asbestos Exposed Population

Conclusions: This is the first large scale prospective study of SMRP for screening for malignancy in asbestos-exposed individuals. A high false positive rate was observed. SMRP seems unlikely to prove useful in screening for MM.

June 27th, 2008. Paget disease of the humerus mimicking metastatic disease in a patient with metastatic malignant mesothelioma on whole body F-18 FDG PET/CT

The corresponding CT scan findings of cortical thickening and a "Swiss cheese" appearance were most consistent with Paget disease. The intense FDG uptake in an osseous lesion on FDG-PET in our case reminds us of the variable nature of FDG uptake in Paget disease, the possibility of false-positive findings on FDG-PET in patients with cancer, and the usefulness of the fusion techniques in the evaluation of skeletal lesions, with the potential for discriminating between benign Paget disease and other pathologic bone findings.

June 11th, 2008. Pemetrexed plus carboplatin in elderly patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma: combined analysis of two phase II trials

Apart from slightly worse haematological toxicity, there was no significant difference in outcome or toxicity between age groups. The PC regimen is effective and well tolerated in selected elderly patients with MPM.

June 6th, 2008. Long-term mortality from pleural and peritoneal cancer after exposure to asbestos: Possible role of asbestos clearance

The risk for pleural cancer, rather than showing an indefinite increase, might reach a plateau when a sufficiently long time has elapsed since exposure. The different trends for pleural and peritoneal cancer might be related to clearance of the asbestos from the workers' lungs.

May 2nd, 2008. The contribution of positron emission tomography in pleural disease

Conclusions: It is justified, therefore, that PET joins the diagnostic armamentarium of pleural pathology, solid or liquid.

March 19th, 2008. F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT scanning in the diagnostic work-up of a primary pericardial mesothelioma: a case report

The use of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography whole body scan has been recently advocated to improve staging and to monitor treatment in pleural mesothelioma. This is the first case describing the use of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography in the diagnostic work-up of a primary pericardial mesothelioma.

March 15th, 2008. Malignant pleural mesothelioma: utility of 18 F-FDG PET

In particular it has been shown to be useful in the evaluation of the extent of pleural disease, in the establishment of lymph node involvement, in the evaluation of tumour invasion into the lung and thoracic wall, in the diagnosis of extrathoracic metastases, in the assessment of the response to treatment, and in planning radiotherapy. Developments in system technology, like improvements in hybrid system (integrated Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography) and the discovery of new radiopharmaceuticals, promise to make PET much more useful and versatile in the future.

February 22nd, 2008. Epidemiology, molecular biology, diagnostic and therapeutic strategy of malignant pleural mesothelioma in 2007 – an update

Antiangiogenic agents such as bevacizumab (Avastatin) may be of interest but need to be tested in phase 3 trials. The Mesothelioma Avastatin Pemetrexed Study (MAPS) is ongoing, coordinated by the French Thoracic Cancer Intergroup (IFCT).

December 19th, 2007. Integrated FDG PET-CT imaging improves staging in malignant pleural mesothelioma

Conclusions: PET-CT seems to be a valuable tool in staging of MPM and leads to discordant findings in almost every second patient compared to CT alone. In many cases these differences are clinically relevant and have therapeutic consequences.

December 7th, 2007. Current state and future directions of pleural mesothelioma imaging

This communication conveys the pitfalls and potential of pleural mesothelioma imaging based on work presented at the Conference. From diagnosis to response, PET/CT to molecular bioprobes, volumetric analysis to computerized tumor assessment, imaging promises to provide valuable insight for patients with mesothelioma and the physicians who treat them.

October 24th, 2007. Morphologic and functional imaging of malignant pleural mesothelioma

An initial report on PET/CT imaging of MPM has shown increased accuracy of overall staging, improving the assessment of tumor resectability. PET/CT seems to be superior to other imaging modalities in detecting more extensive disease involvement, and identifying unsuspected occult distant metastases.

September 14th, 2007. Ensuring the right PET scan for the right patient

In conclusion, PET scanning has the potential to improve the diagnosis and management of lung cancer for many patients. Further studies and refinement of guidelines and procedures will maximise the benefit of this important technique.

September 4th, 2007. Assessment of tumor response in malignant pleural mesothelioma

The use of FDG-PET for prediction of response and, more importantly, of survival outcomes of MPM patients is promising and warrants validation in large prospective series. New serum markers such as osteopontin and mesothelin-related proteins are under evaluation and in the future might play a role in assessing the response of MPM to treatment.

August 21st, 2007. Early prediction of response to chemotherapy and survival in malignant pleural mesothelioma using a novel semiautomated 3-dimensional volume-based analysis of serial 18F-FDG PET scans

Conclusion: Semiquantitative 18F-FDG PET using the volume-based parameter of TGV is feasible in mesothelioma and may predict response to chemotherapy and patient survival after 1 cycle of treatment. Therefore, metabolic imaging has the potential to improve the care of patients receiving chemotherapy for mesothelioma by the early identification of responding patients. This technology may also be useful in the assessment of new systemic treatments for mesothelioma.