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- Title
How few cancer cells can be detected by positron emission tomography? A frequent question addressed by an in vitro study.
- Authors
Fischer, Barbara M.; Olsen, Minna W. B.; Ley, Carsten D.; Klausen, Thomas L.; Mortensen, Jann; Højgaard, Liselotte; Kristjansen, Paul E. G.
- Abstract
Purpose: Positron emission tomography (PET) has gained widespread use in cancer diagnosis and treatment, but how many malignant cells are required for a tumour to be detected by PET? Methods: Three human cancer cell lines [glioblastoma and two subtypes of small cell lung cancer (SCLC)] in concentrations from 104 to 107 were seeded on six-well plates or plastic tubes and treated with [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in vitro. FDG retention was measured in a PET/CT scanner and in a calibrated well counter. The clinical situation was simulated using a cylinder phantom with a background concentration of FDG. Results: The theoretical detection limit was found to be around 105 malignant cells. In a cylinder phantom the detection limit was increased by a factor of 10. The FDG retention by the glioblastoma cell line was significantly higher than the activity of the SCLC cell line. FDG retention measured by PET and a gamma counter was closely correlated to the number of cells and a linear relationship was found. Discussion: The detection limit of PET is in the magnitude of 105 to 106 malignant cells. The experimental set-up was robust and well suited as a platform for further investigations of factors influencing the detection limit of PET.
- Subjects
CANCER cells; POSITRON emission tomography; CANCER diagnosis; GLIOBLASTOMA multiforme; SMALL cell lung cancer
- Publication
European Journal of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging, 2006, Vol 33, Issue 6, p697
- ISSN
1619-7070
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00259-005-0038-6