Prognostic Value of Hybrid PET/MR Imaging in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Simple Summary Hybrid positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance (MR) is an emerging imaging modality with great potential to provide complementary data acquired at the same time, under the same physiological conditions. We evaluated the prognostic value of hybrid F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/MR in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) who underwent total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine therapy for suspicion of disease relapse. Our findings suggest that hybrid PET/MR imaging may have the potential to improve the information content of one modality with the other and would offer new opportunities in patients with DTC. However, there is need of more clinical studies to understand the additional value of F-18-FDG PET/MR in patients with DTC. Background: Hybrid positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance (MR) is an emerging imaging modality with great potential to provide complementary data acquired at the same time, under the same physiological conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of hybrid F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/MR in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) who underwent total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine therapy for suspicion of disease relapse. Methods: Between November 2015 and February 2017, 55 patients underwent hybrid F-18-FDG PET/MR. Assessment of positive MR was made considering all sequences in terms of malignancy based on the morphological T2-weighted features and the presence of restricted diffusivity on diffusion-weighted imaging images and both needed to be positive on the same lesion. Both foci with abnormal F-18-FDG uptake, which corresponded to tissue abnormalities on the MR, and tracer accumulation, which did not correspond to normal morphological structures, were considered positive. Results: During follow-up (mean 42 +/- 27 months), 29 patients (53%) had disease recurrence. In the Cox univariate regression analysis age, serum Tg level >= 2 ng/mL, positive short tau inversion recovery (STIR), and positive PET were significant predictors of DTC recurrence. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses showed that patients with Tg >= 2 ng/mL had poorer outcomes compared to those with serum Tg level < 2 ng/mL (p < 0.05). Similarly, patients with positive STIR and positive PET had a worst outcome compared to those with negative STIR (p < 0.05) and negative PET (p < 0.005). Survival analysis performed in the subgroup of 36 subjects with Tg level >= 2 ng/mL revealed that patients with positive PET had a worst outcome compared to those with negative PET (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Age, serum Tg level >= 2 ng/mL, positive STIR, and positive F-18-FDG PET were significant predictors of DTC recurrence. However, the serum Tg level was the only independent predictor of DTC. Hybrid PET/MR imaging may have the potential to improve the information content of one modality with the other and would offer new opportunities in patients with DTC. Thus, further studies in a larger patient population are needed to understand the additional value of F-18-FDG PET/MR in patients with DTC.

Automated summary

The study evaluated the prognostic value of hybrid PET/MR in patients with DTC. The results showed that hybrid PET/MR imaging may improve the information content and offer new opportunities for patients with DTC. However, further clinical studies are needed to understand the additional value in patients with DTC.