Keiichi Jingu MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Tomohiro Kaneta, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kenji Nemoto MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Shoki Takahashi MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Shogo Yamada MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the clinical significance of focal increased uptake in the basal myocardium on FDG–PET in patients with esophageal cancer after radiotherapy

Between August 2004 and July 2005, a total 64 patients who had been irradiated for thoracic esophageal cancer underwent FDG–PET at least 3 months after the completion of chemoradiotherapy. Some patients showed increased FDG uptake in the basal portion of the myocardium. In order to clarify the clinical significance of these findings, further examinations of hearts were performed. The dose distribution in the myocardium with high FDG uptake was also analyzed retrospectively.

Thirteen (20.3%) of the 64 patients showed high FDG uptake in the basal myocardium corresponding to the irradiated fields in comparison with FDG uptake in the myocardium outside the irradiated fields. Eight of the 13 patients consented to undergo examinations of heart. Five of those 8 patients showed low 123I–BMIPP uptake and 4 showed low 201TlCl uptake in the myocardium that correspond with high FDG uptake regions. In 2 patients, delayed enhancement showed in parts of the area with high FDG uptake on Gd–DTPA MRI, and the delay–enhanced lesion showed hypokinesia on cine MRI in one patient.

FDG–PET often shows focal increased uptake in the basal myocardium after radiotherapy for esophageal cancer. These findings indicate the possibility of radiation–induced cardiac damage, and cardiac function and symptoms of such patients should be followed carefully.

FDG–PET has possibility of detecting the (sub)clinical radiation–induced myocardial damage.

Jingu, K, Kaneta, T, Nemoto, K, Takahashi, S, Yamada, S, Clinical Significance of Focal Increased 18F–FDG Uptake in the Basal Myocardium after Radiotherapy for Esophageal Cancer.  Radiological Society of North America 2006 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 1, 2006 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2006/4437183.html