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Our purpose was to analyze associations between positron emission tomography (PET), diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) imaging in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The study involved 34 patients (9 women, 25 men, mean age: 56.7 ± 10.2 years). In all patients a simultaneous 18 F-FDG-PET/MR was performed. DWI was obtained by using of an axial EPI sequence. Minimal ADC values (ADC min ), mean ADC values (ADC mean ), and maximal ADC values (ADC max ) were estimated. DCE MRI was performed by using dynamic T1w DCE sequence. The following parameters were estimated: K trans , V e , and K ep . Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to analyze associations between investigated parameters. In overall sample, ADC mean correlated significantly with V e and K trans , ADC min correlated with V e , and ADC max correlated with K trans and V e . SUV mean tended to correlate slightly with K trans . In G1/2 tumors, only K trans correlated well with ADC max and SUV mean . In G3 tumors, K trans correlated well with K ep and V e . V e showed significant correlations with ADC mean and ADC max . K trans correlated with ADC max . K ep was higher in cancers with N2/3 stages. Tumor metabolism, water diffusion, and tumor perfusion have complex relationships in HNSCC. Furthermore, these associations depend on tumor grading. K ep may predict lymphonodal metastasizing.

The purpose of this study was to analyze associations between apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and standardized uptake values (SUV) values and different histopathological parameters in uterine cervical cancer. 21 patients with primary uterine cervical cancer were involved into the study. All patients underwent a whole body simultaneous18F-FDG PET/MRI. Mean and maximum SUV were noted (SUVmean and SUVmax). In all tumors minimal, mean, and maximal ADC values (ADCmin, ADCmean, and ADCmax) were estimated. Combined parameters were calculated: SUVmax/SUVmean, ADCmin/ ADCmean, SUVmax/ADCmin and SUVmax/ADCmean. In all cases the diagnosis was confirmed histopathologically by tumor biopsy. Histological slices were stained by hematoxilin and eosin, MIB 1 monoclonal antibody, and p16. All histopathological images were digitalized and analyzed by using a ImageJ software 1.48v. The following parameters were estimated: cell count, proliferation index KI 67, total and average nucleic areas, epithelial and stromal areas. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to analyze associations between ADC and SUV values and histological parameters. P values ≤ 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. ADCmin and ADCmin/ ADCmean were statistically significant lower in N positive tumors. KI 67 correlated statistically significant with SUVmax (r = 0.59, p = 0.005), SUVmean (0.45, p = 0.04), ADCmin (r = -0.48, p = 0.03), SUVmax/ADCmin (r = 0.71, p = 0.001), SUVmax/ADCmean (0.75, p = 0.001). SUVmax correlated well with epithelial area (r = 0.71, p = 0.001) and stromal areas (r = -0.71, p = 0.001). SUV values, ADCmin, SUVmax/ADCmin and SUVmax/ADCmean correlated statistically significant with KI 67 and can be used to estimate the proliferation potential of tumors. SUV values correlated strong with epithelial area of tumor reflected metabolic active areas.

Unlabelled: The diagnosis of spondylodiskitis is often challenging. MRI is quite sensitive but lacks specificity, and distinction from erosive osteochondritis is often difficult. We sought to assess the diagnostic value of (18)F-FDG PET combined with MRI (combined (18)F-FDG PET/MRI) in patients with suspected spondylodiskitis and an inconclusive clinical or MRI presentation., Methods: In a prospective study, 30 patients with previous inconclusive MRI results and suspected spondylodiskitis underwent combined (18)F-FDG PET/MRI, including precontrast and postcontrast standard spine MRI sequences. The image datasets were evaluated on dedicated workstations by 2 radiology residents and 1 board-certified nuclear medicine physician independently and then in consensus. Because of severe susceptibility artifacts, only 28 of 30 image datasets were evaluable, with a total of 29 regions of suspected spondylodiskitis. SUV ratios (affected disk/reference disk) were determined. The imaging results were compared with histopathology or clinical follow-up as a reference standard and subjected to statistical analysis., Results: The reference standards identified spondylodiskitis in 12 disks and excluded spondylodiskitis in 17 disks. For MRI alone, the sensitivity was 50%, the specificity was 71%, the positive predictive value was 54%, and the negative predictive value was 67%. Adding the PET data resulted in sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 100%, 88%, 86%, and 100%, respectively. In a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, an SUVmax ratio threshold of 2.1 resulted in 92% sensitivity and 88% specificity (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.95). Neither the level of C-reactive protein nor the leukocyte count at the time of PET/MRI was related to the reference standard diagnosis of spondylodiskitis., Conclusion: In patients with inconclusive clinical or MRI findings, the use of (18)F-FDG PET/MRI significantly increased diagnostic certainty for the detection of spondylodiskitis., (© 2016 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Inc.)

Background: The (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography ((18)F-FDG-PET/CT) procedure is a cornerstone in the diagnostics of head and neck cancers. Several years ago PET-magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) also became available as an alternative hybrid multimodal imaging method., Objective: Does PET/MRI have advantages over PET/CT in the diagnostics of head and neck cancers?, Material and Methods: The diagnostic accuracy of the standard imaging methods CT, MRI and PET/CT is depicted according to currently available meta-analyses and studies concerning the use of PET/MRI for these indications are summarized., Results: In all studies published up to now PET/MRI did not show superiority regarding the diagnostic accuracy in head and neck cancers; however, there is some evidence that in the future PET/MRI can contribute to tumor characterization and possibly be used to predict tumor response to therapy with the use of multiparametric imaging., Conclusion: Currently, (18)F-FDG-PET/CT is not outperformed by PET/MRI in the diagnostics of head and neck cancers. The additive value of PET/MRI due to the use of multiparametric imaging needs to be investigated in future research.

Objectives: Previous non-simultaneous PET/MR studies have shown heterogeneous results about the correlation between standardized uptake values (SUVs) and apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs). The aim of this study was to investigate correlations in patients with primary and recurrent tumors using a simultaneous PET/MRI system which could lead to a better understanding of tumor biology and might play a role in early response assessment., Methods: We included 31 patients with histologically confirmed primary (n = 14) or recurrent cervical cancer (n = 17) who underwent simultaneous whole-body 18F-FDG-PET/MRI comprising DWI. Image analysis was performed by a radiologist and a nuclear physician who identified tumor margins and quantified ADC and SUV. Pearson correlations were calculated to investigate the association between ADC and SUV., Results: 92 lesions were detected. We found a significant inverse correlation between SUVmax and ADCmin (r = -0.532, p = 0.05) in primary tumors as well as in primary metastases (r = -0.362, p = 0.05) and between SUVmean and ADCmin (r = -0.403, p = 0.03). In recurrent local tumors we found correlations for SUVmax and ADCmin (r = -0.747, p = 0.002) and SUVmean and ADCmin (r = -0.773, p = 0.001). Associations for recurrent metastases were not significant (p>0.05)., Conclusions: Our study demonstrates the feasibility of fast and reliable measurement of SUV and ADC with simultaneous PET/MRI. In patients with cervical cancer we found significant inverse correlations for SUV and ADC which could play a major role for further tumor characterization and therapy decisions.

Objective: To demonstrate the feasibility of simultaneous acquisition of 18F-FDG-PET, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and T1-weighted dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (T1w-DCE) in an integrated simultaneous PET/MRI in patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) and to investigate possible correlations between these parameters., Methods: 17 patients that had given informed consent (15 male, 2 female) with biopsy-proven HNSCC underwent simultaneous 18F-FDG-PET/MRI including DWI and T1w-DCE. SUVmax, SUVmean, ADCmean, ADCmin and Ktrans, kep and ve were measured for each tumour and correlated using Spearman's ρ., Results: Significant correlations were observed between SUVmean and Ktrans (ρ = 0.43; p ≤ 0.05); SUVmean and kep (ρ = 0.44; p ≤ 0.05); Ktrans and kep (ρ = 0.53; p ≤ 0.05); and between kep and ve (ρ = -0.74; p ≤ 0.01). There was a trend towards statistical significance when correlating SUVmax and ADCmin (ρ = -0.35; p = 0.08); SUVmax and Ktrans (ρ = 0.37; p = 0.07); SUVmax and kep (ρ = 0.39; p = 0.06); and ADCmean and ve (ρ = 0.4; p = 0.06)., Conclusion: Simultaneous 18F-FDG-PET/MRI including DWI and T1w-DCE in patients with HNSCC is feasible and allows depiction of complex interactions between glucose metabolism, microcirculatory parameters and cellular density.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic capability of simultaneous (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/MRI compared to (18)F-FDG PET/CT as well as their single components in head and neck cancer patients., Methods: In a prospective study 17 patients underwent (18)F-FDG PET/CT for staging or follow-up and an additional (18)F-FDG PET/MRI scan with whole-body imaging and dedicated examination of the neck. MRI, CT and PET images as well as PET/MRI and PET/CT examinations were evaluated independently and in a blinded fashion by two reader groups. Results were compared with the reference standard (final diagnosis determined in consensus using all available data including histology and follow-up). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated., Results: A total of 23 malignant tumours were found with the reference standard. PET/CT showed a sensitivity of 82.7%, a specificity of 87.3%, a PPV of 73.2% and a NPV of 92.4%. Corresponding values for PET/MRI were 80.5, 88.2, 75.6 and 92.5%. No statistically significant difference in diagnostic capability could be found between PET/CT and PET/MRI. Evaluation of the PET part from PET/CT revealed highest sensitivity of 95.7%, and MRI showed best specificity of 96.4%. There was a high inter-rater agreement in all modalities (Cohen's kappa 0.61-0.82)., Conclusion: PET/MRI of patients with head and neck cancer yielded good diagnostic capability, similar to PET/CT. Further studies on larger cohorts to prove these first results seem justified.

The implementation of hybrid imaging systems requires thorough and anticipatory planning at local and regional levels. For installation of combined positron emission and magnetic resonance imaging systems (PET/MRI), a number of physical and constructional provisions concerning shielding of electromagnetic fields (RF- and high-field) as well as handling of radionuclides have to be met, the latter of which includes shielding for the emitted 511 keV gamma rays. Based on our experiences with a SIEMENS Biograph mMR system, a step-by-step approach is required to allow a trouble-free installation. In this article, we present a proposal for a standardized step-by-step plan to accomplish the installation of a combined PET/MRI system. Moreover, guidelines for the smooth operation of combined PET/MRI in an integrated research and clinical setting will be proposed. Overall, the most important preconditions for the successful implementation of PET/MRI in an integrated research and clinical setting is the interdisciplinary target-oriented cooperation between nuclear medicine, radiology, and all referring and collaborating institutions at all levels of interaction (personnel, imaging protocols, reporting, selection of the data transfer and communication methods).