Usefulness of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography as predictor of distant metastasis in preoperative carbon-ion radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer.

AIM The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of FDG-PET regarding the indication of preoperative carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) for pancreatic cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with resectable pancreatic cancer underwent preoperative CIRT. The impact of baseline SUVmax on prognosis for patients was assessed by analyzing correlations with distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS Out of 21 patients, local recurrence was observed in no patient and distant metastasis was found in 13 patients (62%). 1-year DMFS and OS in low-SUVmax group were significantly higher than those in high-SUVmax group (91% vs. 20% and 91% vs. 56%). SUVmax was significantly correlated with DMFS and OS. CONCLUSION Our data indicated a significant correlation between SUVmax and DMFS. FDG-PET might be useful for determining the indication of preoperative short-course CIRT for patients with resectable pancreatic cancer.