2Department of Nuclear Medicine, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Adana-Turkey DOI : 10.5505/tjo.2018.1828 OBJECTIVE
To investigate the impact of metabolic response measured by 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography (FDG-PET-CT) in patients with breast cancer liver metastasis (BCLM) treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT).
METHODS
The medical records of 17 patients with BCLM treated with SBRT between March 2013 and October 2017
were investigated retrospectively. Patients received SBRT for their liver metastasis, and thereafter, a second
FDG-PET-CT was performed for response assessment in a median of 4.1 (2.2?8.2) months. A total of 54
Gy in three fractions were delivered to liver metastatic lesions. The standardized uptake value (SUV) and
survival rates were evaluated.
RESULTS
After a median follow-up time of 11.5 (3.2?48.9) months, there was a significant difference between preand
post-SBRT SUVs (p<0.001). Complete metabolic response was observed in 14 (82%) patients, partial
metabolic response was observed in 2 (12%) patients, and stable metabolic disease/progressive metabolic
disease was observed in 1 (6%) patient at post-treatment PET-CT. The 1- and 2-year overall survival rates
were 68% and 57%, respectively, and the 1- and 2-year progression-free survival rates were 38% and 25%,
respectively.
CONCLUSION
PET-CT is an effective tool for response monitoring in patients with BCLM treated with SBRT.