<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><xml><records><record><source-app name="HighWire" version="7.x">Drupal-HighWire</source-app><ref-type name="Journal Article">17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">CHEN, YEN-KUNG</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">HSIEH, DAR-SHIH</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">LIAO, CHAO-SHENG</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">BAI, CHYI-HUEY</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">SU, CHEN-TAU</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">SHEN, YEH-YOU</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">HSIEH, JIH-FANG</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">LIAO, ALFRED C.</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">KAO, CHIA-HUNG</style></author></authors><secondary-authors></secondary-authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Utility of FDG-PET for Investigating Unexplained Serum AFP Elevation in Patients with Suspected Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Anticancer Research</style></secondary-title></titles><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2005</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2005-11-01 00:00:00</style></date></pub-dates></dates><pages><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">4719-4725</style></pages><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">25</style></volume><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">6C</style></issue><abstract><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential role of positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in patients with unexplained rising serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels after the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients and Methods: Thirty-one FDG-PET studies were performed in 26 patients (age range, 45-83; 21 men and 5 women), who had undergone either surgical resection or interventional therapy for HCC, but were subsequently noted to have high AFP serum levels on routine follow-up examinations, although imaging studies and physical examinations were normal. The FDG-PET results were correlated with histological findings, as well as long-term radiological and clinical follow-up (shortest follow-up period after FDG-PET was 6 months). Results: FDG-PET was abnormal in 22 of the 31 studies (71.0%) among the 26 patients. Intrahepatic lesions were detected in 20 of a total 30 lesions (66.7%) in 18 studies of FDG-PET among 26 patients. Ten FDG-PET studies among 9 patients identified one intrahepatic lesion, while 3 studies among 3 patients identified more than one intrahepatic lesion. Extrahepatic metastases were found in 9/31 studies of FDG-PET (29.0%) among 8 patients. These metastatic foci, composed of increased FDG accumulation, were identified in several locations; lung (4 studies among 4 patients), bone (2 studies among 2 patients) and the peritoneum (4 studies among 3 patients). Overall, FDG-PET for detecting HCC recurrence demonstrated 22 true-positives, 8 false-negatives, 1 true-negative and 0 false-positive results. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of FDG-PET for detecting HCC recurrence was 73.3%, 100% and 74.2%, respectively. Conclusion: When conventional examinations are normal, FDG-PET is a valuable imaging tool in patients who have rising AFP levels after HCC treatment. FDG-PET whole-body scan also provides an important and valuable imaging study for detecting extrahepatic metastasis. Copyright© 2005 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved</style></abstract></record></records></xml>