Table 1. 18F-FDG-PET for predicting tumor viability following LRTT in a neoadjuvant approach.
| Authors | Technique of LRTT | n | Stratification of subsets | Main study results |
| Torizuka et al.52 | TACE using iodized oil | 30 | Type A HCC: Increased FDG uptake (SUV 1.07–2.66) Type B HCC: Similar to surrounding liver tissue (SUV 0.77–1.04) Type C HCC: Decreased FDG uptake (SUV 0.13–0.58) |
Viable tumor following TACE in type A and B HCC; more than 90% necrosis in type C tumor; tumor necrosis rate <75% in SUV <0.6 and ≈ 100% in SUV >0.6. |
| Cascales Campos et al.53 | TACE | 6 | Post-TACE SUV < vs. ≥3 | Decrease of SUV to <3 post-TACE was associated with necrosis rate >80% on explant histopathology. |
| Cascales Campos et al.54 | TACE | 20 | Post-TACE SUV < vs. ≥3 | Decreases of SUV to <3 post-TACE was associated with necrosis rate >70% on explant histopathology and adequate 1- (100%) and 3-year (80%) survival post-LT. |
| Kornberg et al.55 | TACE and RFA | 59 | Increased vs. not increased 18F-FDG uptake (PET+ vs. PET− status) | PET− status was identified as the only independent clinical predictor (HR = 12.4; 95%CI 3.1–49.0; p < 0.001) of tumor response (≥50% tumor necrosis rate on explant pathology) to LRTT. |
| Kim et al.56 | TACE with lipiodol | 91 | Grade I: no 18F-FDG uptake or 18F-FDG uptake lower than in surrounding liver tissue Grade II: 18F-FDG uptake similar to the surrounding liver tissue Grade III: 18F-FDG uptake greater than in the surrounding liver tissue |
18F-FDG uptake correlated with histopathologic grade in treatment-naïve tumors but not in lipiodolized HCCs after TACE; 18F-FDG PET/CT showed a high diagnostic sensitivity and a moderate specificity in evaluating viability of lipiodolized HCC nodules. |
Abbreviations: 18F-FDG, 18F-fludeoxyglucose; CI, confidence interval; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; HR, hazard ratio; PET, positron emission tomography; SUV, standard uptake value;TACE, transarterial chemoembolization.