Image Quality and Interpretation of [18F]-FES-PET: Is There any Effect of Food Intake?

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

High physiological 16α-[18F]-fluoro-17β-estradiol ([18F]-FES) uptake in the abdomen is a limitation of this positron emission tomography (PET) tracer. Therefore, we investigated the effect of food intake prior to PET acquisition on abdominal background activity in [18F]-FES-PET scans.

METHODS:

Breast cancer patients referred for [18F]-FES-PET were included. Three groups were designed: (1) patients who consumed a chocolate bar (fatty meal) between tracer injection and imaging (n = 20), (2) patients who fasted before imaging (n = 20), and (3) patients without diet restrictions (control group, n = 20). We compared the physiological [18F]-FES uptake, expressed as mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean), in the abdomen between groups.

RESULTS:

A significant difference in [18F]-FES uptake in the gall bladder and stomach lumen was observed between groups, with the lowest values for the chocolate group and highest for the fasting group (p = 0.015 and p = 0.011, respectively). Post hoc analysis showed significant differences in the SUVmean of these organs between the chocolate and fasting groups, but not between the chocolate and control groups.

CONCLUSION:

This exploratory study showed that, compared to fasting, eating chocolate decreases physiological gall bladder and stomach [18F]-FES uptake; further reduction through a normal diet was not seen. A prospective study is warranted to confirm this finding.

• Authors: Jorianne Boers, Katerina Giatagana, Carolina P Schröder, Geke A P Hospers, Erik F J de Vries, Andor W J M Glaudemans
• Journal: Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) (Diagnostics (Basel)) Vol. 10 Issue 10 (Sep 26 2020) ISSN: 2075-4418 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 32993099 (Publication Type: Journal Article)