The Impact of Metabolic (18)F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Parameters on the Prognosis of Resectable Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVES: (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is a useful staging method in pancreatic cancer. The prognosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma is affected by the tumor stage and resectable state. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUV(max)), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) of primary tumors are related to prognostic parameters in pancreatic cancer. This study compared (18)F-FDG PET/CT findings with prognostic factors and overall survival of patients with pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, referred to our department between 2015 and 2022 for staging, were retrospectively evaluated. Head-to mid-thigh PET/CT images were obtained 1 h after (18)F-FDG injection. Demographic data, survival, and clinical and pathological findings of 39 patients, who underwent surgery after PET/CT imaging, were collected. All primary tumor MTV, SUV(max), background SUV(max), and TLG data have were measured. RESULTS: The images of 39 patients (24 women and 15 men) with a mean age of 66.62±9.60 years were evaluated. The mean SUV(max), MTV 40%, and TLG of the primary tumors in the pancreatic tissue were 6.28±2.33, 19.33±9.77, and 66.56±45.99, respectively. The average survival after disease diagnosis was 18.97±11.47 (2-55) months. MTV and TLG were significantly higher in patients who died during our study. SUV(max) has a significant effect on mortality. CONCLUSION: (18)F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters of SUV(max), MTV, and TLG could help predicting the prognosis of pancreatic cancer preoperatively and follow-up in patients with resectable tumors. Additionally, in our study group tumor grade and perineural invasion significantly affected overall survival.