David Groheux1, Elif Hindié2, Michel Marty3, Marc Espié4, Domenico Rubello5, Laetitia Vercellino6, Guilhem Bousquet7, Jessica Ohnona8, Marie-Elisabeth Toubert8, Pascal Merlet6, Jean-Louis Misset4. 1. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Saint-Louis Hospital, Paris, France; Doctoral School of Biology and Biotechnology, University Institute of Hematology, University of Paris VII, Paris, France. Electronic address: dgroheux@yahoo.fr. 2. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Haut-Lévêque Hospital, CHU Bordeaux, University Bordeaux-Segalen, Bordeaux, France. 3. Breast Diseases Unit and Department of Medical Oncology, Saint-Louis Hospital, Paris, France; Centre for Therapeutic Innovation, Saint-Louis Hospital, Paris, France. 4. Breast Diseases Unit and Department of Medical Oncology, Saint-Louis Hospital, Paris, France. 5. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Santa Maria della Misericordia, Rovigo Hospital, Rovigo, Italy. 6. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Saint-Louis Hospital, Paris, France; Doctoral School of Biology and Biotechnology, University Institute of Hematology, University of Paris VII, Paris, France. 7. Breast Diseases Unit and Department of Medical Oncology, Saint-Louis Hospital, Paris, France; INSERM U728, University Institute of Hematology, University of Paris VII, Paris, France. 8. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Saint-Louis Hospital, Paris, France.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Male breast cancer (BC) is a rare disease, with patterns different from those found in women. Most tumors are detected at more advanced stages than in women. The aim of this study was to analyze the performance of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)F-FDG-PET/CT) in staging, restaging, and therapy response assessment. METHODS: We performed a systematic analysis in the database of Saint-Louis Hospital to identify male patients with BC referred for PET/CT. (18)F-FDG-PET/CT findings considered suspicious for malignancy were compared to biopsy results, further work-up and/or patient follow-up of at least 6 months. Performances of (18)F-FDG-PET/CT were compared to that of conventional imaging (CI) using the McNemar test. The impact of PET/CT on management was evaluated. RESULTS: During 6 consecutive years, among 12,692 (18)F-FDG-PET/CT oncology studies, 30 were performed in 15 men with BC: 7 examinations for initial staging, 11 for restaging, and 12 for response assessment. Tumors profile was ER+ and one had HER2 overexpression. PET/CT sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy to detect distant metastases were 100%, 67%, 86%, 100% and 89%, respectively. PET/CT was more informative than CI in 40% of studies (p=0.03; 95% confidence interval: 3.26 - 40%). Findings from (18)F-FDG-PET/CT led to modification in the planned treatment in 13/30 cases (43%). CONCLUSION: Although all the tumors were ER+, primary lesions and metastases were diagnosed with high sensitivity. (18)F-FDG-PET/CT seems to be a powerful imaging method to perform staging, restaging and treatment response assessment in male patients with BC.
PURPOSE:Male breast cancer (BC) is a rare disease, with patterns different from those found in women. Most tumors are detected at more advanced stages than in women. The aim of this study was to analyze the performance of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)F-FDG-PET/CT) in staging, restaging, and therapy response assessment. METHODS: We performed a systematic analysis in the database of Saint-Louis Hospital to identify male patients with BC referred for PET/CT. (18)F-FDG-PET/CT findings considered suspicious for malignancy were compared to biopsy results, further work-up and/or patient follow-up of at least 6 months. Performances of (18)F-FDG-PET/CT were compared to that of conventional imaging (CI) using the McNemar test. The impact of PET/CT on management was evaluated. RESULTS: During 6 consecutive years, among 12,692 (18)F-FDG-PET/CT oncology studies, 30 were performed in 15 men with BC: 7 examinations for initial staging, 11 for restaging, and 12 for response assessment. Tumors profile was ER+ and one had HER2 overexpression. PET/CT sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy to detect distant metastases were 100%, 67%, 86%, 100% and 89%, respectively. PET/CT was more informative than CI in 40% of studies (p=0.03; 95% confidence interval: 3.26 - 40%). Findings from (18)F-FDG-PET/CT led to modification in the planned treatment in 13/30 cases (43%). CONCLUSION: Although all the tumors were ER+, primary lesions and metastases were diagnosed with high sensitivity. (18)F-FDG-PET/CT seems to be a powerful imaging method to perform staging, restaging and treatment response assessment in male patients with BC.