Diagnostic Test Accuracy of 18F-FDG PET or PET/CT for Characterization of Histologic Type of Thymic Epithelial Tumor: A Meta-analysis.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

This study investigated diagnostic accuracies of 18F-FDG PET or PET/CT for characterization of histologic type of thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

The PubMed, Cochrane database, and EMBASE database, from the earliest available date of indexing through August 31, 2020, were searched for studies evaluating diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG PET or PET/CT for characterization of TET. We determined the sensitivities and specificities, calculated positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+ and LR-), and constructed summary receiver operating characteristic curves.

RESULTS:

The pooled sensitivity of 18F-FDG PET or PET/CT was 0.89 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80-0.95), and the pooled specificity was 0.77 (95% CI, 0.63-0.87) for differentiation between thymic cancer and thymoma. Likelihood ratio syntheses gave an overall positive likelihood ratio (LR+) of 3.9 and negative likelihood ratio (LR-) of 0.14. The pooled diagnostic odds ratio was 28 (95% CI, 13-63). The pooled sensitivity was 0.90 (95% CI, 0.75-0.96), and the pooled specificity was 0.81 (95% CI, 0.68-0.89) for differential diagnosis of a low-risk or high-risk TET. LR+ was 4.7 and LR- was 0.12. The pooled diagnostic odds ratio was 38 (95% CI, 12-121). In meta-regression analysis, no variable was the source of the study heterogeneity.

CONCLUSIONS:

18F-FDG PET or PET/CT has excellent diagnostic performances for characterization of TET. Further large multicenter studies would be necessary to establish the diagnostic accuracy of 18F-FDG PET or PET/CT for differentiation of histologic type of TET.

• Authors: Keunyoung Kim, Joon-Hoon Jeong, Seong-Jang Kim
• Journal: Clinical nuclear medicine (Clin Nucl Med) Vol. 47 Issue 1 Pg. 36-42 (Jan 01 2022) ISSN: 1536-0229 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 34661556 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18

Topics

• Diagnostic Tests, Routine
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
• Humans
• Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial (diagnostic imaging)
• Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
• Positron-Emission Tomography
• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Thymus Neoplasms (diagnostic imaging)