Nucl Med Mol Imaging.  2016 Mar;50(1):38-45. 10.1007/s13139-015-0367-8.

Association Between 18F-FDG Avidity and the BRAF Mutation in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

• Lee SH
• Han S
• Lee HS
• Chae SY
• Lee JJ
• Song DE
• Ryu JS

• KMID: 2313273
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s13139-015-0367-8

Abstract

PURPOSE
The BRAF mutation, a potential prognostic factor in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), is associated with a high expression of the glucose transporter gene. We investigated which clinicopathologic factors, including BRAF mutation status, influence 18F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (18F-FDG) avidity.
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed 55 patients who underwent BRAF analysis from biopsy-confirmed PTC and 18F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography within 6 months before undergoing thyroid surgery from September 2008 to August 2014. Tumors were considered to be 18F-FDG avid if the uptake was greater than that of the liver. 18F-FDG uptake of PTCs was also analyzed semiquantitatively using SUV(max). The association between 18F-FDG avidity and clinicopathologic variables (age, tumor size, perithyroidal extension, cervical lymph node status, and BRAF mutation status) was investigated.
RESULTS
Twenty-nine (52.7 %) of 55 patients had 18F-FDG-avid PTCs. PTCs with the BRAF mutation showed higher 18F-FDG avidity (24/38, 63.2 %) than those without (5/17, 29.4 %). The BRAF mutation (p=0.025) and tumor size (p= 0.003) were significantly associated with 18F-FDG avidity in univariate analysis, and the BRAF mutation status remained significant after adjusting for tumor size in multivariate analysis (p=0.015). In the subgroup of tumor size≥1 cm, the BRAF mutation was the only factor significantly associated with 18F-FDG avidity (p=0.021). The mean SUV(max) of PTCs with the BRAF mutation was significantly higher than that of those without (4.89±6.12 vs. 1.96±1.10, p=0.039).
CONCLUSION
The BRAF mutation must be one of the most important factors influencing 18F-FDG avidity in PTCs, especially in those with a tumor size≥1 cm.

Keyword

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose; Positron-emission tomography; BRAF mutation; Papillary thyroid carcinoma

MeSH Terms

Electrons
Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative
Humans
Liver
Lymph Nodes
Multivariate Analysis
Positron-Emission Tomography
Retrospective Studies
Thyroid Gland*
Thyroid Neoplasms*
Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative