Prediction of benzimidazole therapy duration with PET/CT in inoperable patients with alveolar echinococcosis.

Abstract

Alveolar echinococcosis is a rare parasitic disease, most frequently affecting the liver, as a slow-growing tumor-like lesion. If inoperable, long-term benzimidazole therapy is required, which is associated with high healthcare costs and occasionally with increased morbidity. The aim of our study was to determine the role 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in staging of patients with alveolar echinococcosis and to identify quantitative imaging parameters related to patient outcome and/or duration of benzimidazole therapy. In this single-center retrospective cohort study, 47 PET/CT performed for staging in patients with confirmed alveolar echinococcosis were analysed. In 43 patients (91%) benzimidazole therapy was initiated and was successfully stopped after a median of 870 days (766-2517) in 14/43 patients (33%). In inoperable patients, tests for trend of survivor functions displayed clear trends for longer benzimidazole therapy duration (p = 0.05; n = 25), and for longer time intervals to reach non-detectable serum concentration of Em-18 antibodies (p = 0.01, n = 15) across tertiles of SUVratio (maximum standardized uptake value in the echinococcus manifestation compared to normal liver tissue). Hence, in inoperable patients with alveolar echinococcosis, PET/CT performed for staging may predict the duration of benzimidazole therapy.

• Authors: Lars Husmann, Hannes Gruenig, Caecilia S Reiner, Ansgar Deibel, Bruno Ledergerber, Virginia Liberini, Stephan Skawran, Urs J Muehlematter, Michael Messerli, Barbara Hasse, Beat Muellhaupt, Martin W Huellner
• Journal: Scientific reports (Sci Rep) Vol. 12 Issue 1 Pg. 11392 (07 06 2022) ISSN: 2045-2322 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 35794149 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2022. The Author(s).

Chemical References

• Benzimidazoles

Topics

• Benzimidazoles (therapeutic use)
• Duration of Therapy
• Echinococcosis
• Humans
• Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
• Retrospective Studies