Combined average standard uptake value and rate constant can predict expression of EGFR in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: A pilot study with integrated PET/MRI.

PURPOSE

To investigate whether the quantitative multiparameters of F-FDG PET/MRI can predict expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC).

METHODS

Twenty-one patients with HSCC confirmed by biopsy underwent neck integrated F-FDG PET/MRI and EGFR expression detection. Quantitative parameters derived from F-FDG PET, difusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and dynamic contrast enhanced-magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) were measured. The efficacies of quantitative multiparameters derived from F-FDG PET/MRI for predicting the expression of EGFR of HSCC were evaluated.

RESULTS

The patients were divided into positive expression group (PEG, n = 14) and negative expression group (NEG, n = 7). Mann-Whitney U nonparametric test showed that SUV and K had statistical difference between PEG and NPG, while other parameters had no statistical difference. Using 14.50 and 2.10 min as the threshold values, areas under the curve (AUCs) for SUV and K were 0.786 with specificity of 92.9 % and sensitivity of 57.1 %. The combined use of SUV and K had better efficacy to evaluate the expression of EGFR with AUC of 0.980, sensitivity of 92.9 %, and specificity of 100.0 %.

CONCLUSION

Combined use of SUV and K showed good performance in predicting the expression of EGFR in HSCC. Integrated F-FDG PET/MRI enables simultaneous acquisition of SUV and K, so it represents as a powerful tool to noninvasively and repeatably evaluate the expression of EGFR during the management of HSCC.