Prognostic Role of 18F-FDG Positron Emission Tomography in Patients with Resectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Introduction: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography(18F-FDG PET) could predict tumour biology and aggressive of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). We hypothesized that 18F-FDG PET predicted survival patients with HCC who underwent hepatectomy. Method: This was a retrospective study at university center in Hong Kong. Data retrieved from prospectively entered database. Maximum standard uptake value(SUVmax) tumor/ normal liver uptake(T/L ratio) recorded. The positivity for overall survival(OS) determined using T/L ratio by c-statistics receiver operating characteristic curve. Multivariate analyses preoperative, pathological variables were performed to determine the prognostic significance post-hepatectomy OS recurrence. Results: From 2004 2019, 267 had before 5-year disease free survival(DFS) 64.8% 40.5% respectively. median follow-up 45.3 months. Table 1 showed baseline demographics, operative characteristics all patients. optimal cut-off 1.526 based on ROC(AUC 0.674, 95% CI 0.608-0.741, P<0.001). Using cutoff 1.526, it found be an independent predictor [hazard ratio(HR) 1.762 (1.120-2.773), p=0.014] (Table2) associated better OS.(Figure1) positive more likely recur (with DFS 45.8% vs. 33.1%, p=0.001) shorter (median 8.5 vs 50 months, p=0.001).(Figure 2) Conclusion: factor explored as potential radiological biomarkers aggressiveness.