根據(jù)一項(xiàng)最新研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，在鑒別已經(jīng)出現(xiàn)骨骼轉(zhuǎn)移的乳腺癌方面，骨骼單光子發(fā)射計(jì)算機(jī)斷層掃描(SPECT)優(yōu)于氟脫氧葡萄糖正電子發(fā)射斷層掃描(FDG PET)。

FDG PET檢測的原理是：腫瘤細(xì)胞葡萄糖代謝增加。SPECT檢測放射活性藥物（藥物由臨床醫(yī)生給予）攝入?yún)^(qū)域。SPECT能夠發(fā)現(xiàn)骨骼轉(zhuǎn)移性腫瘤的位置，而PET做不到這一點(diǎn)。除此之外，骨骼SPECT能夠鑒別出腫瘤細(xì)胞破壞后再生的骨骼區(qū)域。

這項(xiàng)研究結(jié)果發(fā)表在2005年4月的《美國X線學(xué)期刊》之上，來自日本Shizuoka癌癥中心醫(yī)院的科學(xué)家評估了15例乳腺癌患者的總共900份骨骼檢查結(jié)果，這些患者接受了PET以及SPECT掃描檢查。研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn)：在鑒別骨骼轉(zhuǎn)移性腫瘤方面，SPECT敏感性為85％，精確性為96％；PET敏感性僅僅為17％，精確性為85％。他們還發(fā)現(xiàn)PET只能顯示特定類型的腫瘤。

該項(xiàng)研究首席作者Takayoshi Uematsu醫(yī)生說：“骨骼是乳腺癌轉(zhuǎn)移的最常見部位。高達(dá)90％的死于乳腺癌的患者由遠(yuǎn)處骨骼轉(zhuǎn)移。在乳腺癌初始部位得到治療后，骨骼是復(fù)發(fā)頻率最高的部位。”

根據(jù)研究人員的說法，確定何種影像檢查技術(shù)對特定疾病的檢查效果最佳，對患者的治療是十分必要的。Uematsu醫(yī)生說：“對骨骼轉(zhuǎn)移瘤的早期診斷與治療能夠改善乳腺癌患者的預(yù)后，適合的影像檢查方法能夠幫助進(jìn)行早期檢測骨骼轉(zhuǎn)移瘤。”

SPECT Better than FDG PET for Identifying Bone Metastases in Breast Cancer
 
Bone single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is superior to fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) for identifying breast cancer that has metastasized to an individual’s bones, according to new research.

FDG PET is a method that is based on increased metabolism of glucose in tumor cells. SPECT detects areas of radioactive agent uptake that is administered by a clinician. SPECT can demonstrate the site of bone metastases, while PET cannot. Additionally, bone SPECT can identify where bone is being regenerated after destruction by tumor cells.

In the study, which was published in the April 2005 issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology, scientists from Shizuoka Cancer Center Hospital (Japan) assessed the results in a total of 900 bones in 15 patients with breast cancer who underwent both PET and SPECT scanning.

The researchers discovered that SPECT had a sensitivity of 85% and an accuracy of 96% for identifying bone metastases, while PET had a sensitivity of only 17% and an accuracy of 85%. They also found that PET was limited in its capability to show specific types of tumors.

“Bone is the most common site of breast cancer metastasis. Up to 90% of patients dying with distant breast cancer have bone metastases. Bone is also the most frequent recurrence site after treatment for primary breast cancer,” said Takayoshi Uematsu, M.D., lead author of the study.

Determining which imaging technique is the best for a specific disorder is essential in treating the patient, according to the researchers. “Early diagnosis and treatment of bone metastases might improve outcomes in breast cancer patients, and the appropriate imaging method is able to assist in the early detection of bone metastases,” said Dr. Uematsu.