Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Partial Volume Correction for Equivocal Retropharyngeal Nodal Metastases of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma with Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography–Computed Tomography

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Medical and Biological Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The objective of this study is to determine the size range where the recovery coefficient (RC) method of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET–CT) is helpful in detecting lateral retropharyngeal lymph (LRPL) nodal metastases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients previously treated with radiation therapy. A total of 142 LRPL nodes assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 71 NPC patients were chosen for investigation. LRPL nodes with central necrosis, extracapsular invasion, or asymmetric grouping or those ascertained on follow-up MRI scans were considered positive for metastases. The criterion for positive diagnosis of nodal metastasis on FDG PET–CT scans was defined as maximal standard uptake value (SUVmax) ≥ 2.5. Nodes not separated from main tumors were excluded. An established RC method, the sphere-to-background ratio, was employed. Nodes were further categorized into three groups of minimal axial diameters: below 6, 6–7 mm, and above 7 mm. A total of 88 nodes were examined by FDG PET. Thirty-five nodes were positive and 53 nodes were negative. The RC method significantly improved sensitivity (from 20 to 100 %) and accuracy (from 14 to 71 %) for nodes sized 6–7 mm. In LRPL nodes above 7 mm, the RC method also provided slight improvement, with sensitivity and accuracy both increasing from 92 to 96 %. However, the nodal sizes below 6 mm were too small for valid comparisons. In conclusion, partial volume correction in FDG PET–CT enhances the accuracy of detecting nodes in the equivocal size range of 6–7 mm for LRPL nodal metastases of NPC.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Yu, E., O’Sullivan, B., Kim, J., Siu, L., & Bartlett, E. (2010). Magnetic resonance imaging of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy, 10, 365–375.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Zhang, G. Y., Liu, L. Z., Wei, W. H., Deng, Y. M., Li, Y. Z., & Liu, X. W. (2010). Radiologic criteria of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with radiation therapy. Radiology, 255, 605–612.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Sharma, M., Bartlett, E., & Yu, E. (2010). Metastatic retropharyngeal lymph nodes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Imaging criteria. Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy, 10, 1703–1706.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Ng, S. H., Chang, J. T., Chan, S. C., Ko, S. F., Wang, H. M., & Liao, C. T. (2004). Nodal metastases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: patterns of disease on MRI and FDG PET. European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, 31, 1073–1080.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Hoffman, E. J., Huang, S. C., & Phelps, M. E. (1979). Quantitation in positron emission computed tomography: 1. Effect of object size. Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography, 3, 299–308.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Rousset, O. G., Ma, Y., & Evans, A. C. (1998). Correction for partial volume effects in PET: Principle and validation. Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 39, 904–911.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Sakaguchi, Y., Mizoguchi, N., Mitsumoto, T., Mitsumoto, K., Himuro, K., & Ohya, N. (2010). A simple table lookup method for PET-CT partial volume correction using a point-spread function in diagnosing lymph node metastasis. Annals of Nuclear Medicine, 24, 585–591.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Greene, F. L., Page, D. L., Fleming, I. D., Fritz, A. G., Balch, C. M., Haller, D. G., & Morrow, M. (2002). AJCC cancer staging handbook sixth edition TNM classification of malignant tumors. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Miller, A. B., Hoogstraten, B., Staquet, M., & Winkler, A. (1981). Reporting results of cancer treatment. Cancer, 47, 207–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Wang, Y. W., Wu, C. S., Cheng, K. S., Chang, Y. K., Lee, S. W., Chang, C. H., et al. (2011). Defining partial and complete resolution and correcting label misplacement in figures of retropharyngeal node metastasis in nasopharyngeal cancer. Radiology, 259, 612.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Srinivas, S. M., Dhurairaj, T., Basu, S., Bural, G., Surti, S., & Alavi, A. (2009). A recovery coefficient method for partial volume correction of PET images. Annals of Nuclear Medicine, 23, 341–348.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Chen, C. H., Muzic, R. F, Jr, Nelson, A. D., & Adler, L. P. (1999). Simultaneous recovery of size and radioactivity concentration of small spheroids with PET data. Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 40, 118–130.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Edge, S. B., Byrd, D. R., Compton, C. C., Fritz, A. G., Greene, F. L., & Trotti, A. (2010). AJCC cancer staging handbook from the AJCC cancer staging manual (7th ed.). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Geworski, L., Knoop, B. O., de Cabrejas, M. L., Knapp, W. H., & Munz, D. L. (2000). Recovery correction for quantitation in emission tomography: A feasibility study. European Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 27, 161–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Vriens, D., Visser, E. P., de Geus-Oei, L. F., & Oyen, W. J. (2010). Methodological considerations in quantification of oncological FDG PET studies. European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, 37, 1408–1425.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Soret, M., Bacharach, S. L., & Buvat, I. (2007). Partial-volume effect in PET tumor imaging. Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 48, 932–945.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Liu, W. S., Wu, M. F., Tseng, H. C., Liu, J. T., Weng, J. H., & Li, Y. C. (2012). The role of pretreatment FDG-PET in nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy. International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, 82, 561–566.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Avril, N., Bense, S., Ziegler, S. I., Dose, J., Weber, W., Laubenbacher, C., et al. (1997). Breast imaging with fluorine-18-FDG PET: Quantitative image analysis. Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 38, 1186–1191.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by project Grant CLFHR10017 from Chi Mei Medical Center, Liouying (Yu-Wen Wang). The authors deeply appreciate the manuscript preparation assistance from Shan-Tair Wang, PhD and Michael Chang (macst34@gmail.com).

Conflict of interest

The authors affirm no conflict of interest or use of copyrighted information in this research. We have safeguarded personal patient privacy. We have disclosed all financial relationships for the manuscript and work.

Funding

Supported by project Grant CLFHR10017 from Chi Mei Medical Center, Liouying (Yu-Wen Wang).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

    Yu-Wen Wang, Chih-Han Chang & Kuo-Sheng Cheng

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Liouying, Tainan, Taiwan

    Yu-Wen Wang

  3. Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Medical Imaging, Chi Mei Medical Center, Liouying, Tainan, Taiwan

    Chin-Shun Wu

  4. Department of Medical Imaging, Chi Mei Medical Center, Liouying, Tainan, Taiwan

    Yu-Kang Chang

  5. Metal Industries Research & Development Centre, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    I-Wen Huang

  6. Department of Medical Research, Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chia-Yi, Taiwan

    Chin-Li Lu

  7. Department of Nuclear Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, 138 Sheng-Li Road, Tainan, 70428, Taiwan

    Wei-Jen Yao

Authors
  1. Yu-Wen Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Chin-Shun Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chih-Han Chang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kuo-Sheng Cheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yu-Kang Chang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. I-Wen Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Chin-Li Lu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Wei-Jen Yao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wei-Jen Yao.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wang, YW., Wu, CS., Chang, CH. et al. Partial Volume Correction for Equivocal Retropharyngeal Nodal Metastases of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma with Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography–Computed Tomography. J. Med. Biol. Eng. 35, 218–225 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40846-015-0023-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40846-015-0023-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation