PET FDG studies of Wilms tumors

• Published in: Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology Vol. 19; no. 4; pp. 334 - 338
• Main Authors: SHULKIN, B. L, CHANG, E, STROUSE, P. J, BLOOM, D. A, HUTCHINSON, R. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott 01-07-1997
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Child, Preschool; Deoxyglucose - analogs & derivatives; Female; Fluorine Radioisotopes; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Kidney Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Medical sciences; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Radiopharmaceuticals; Tomography, Emission-Computed; Urinary system; Wilms Tumor - diagnostic imaging; Human; Kidney disease; Urinary system disease; Radiodiagnosis; Positron emitter; Malignant tumor; Case study; Wilms tumor; Tomography; Medical imagery; Computerized axial tomography; Diagnosis; Child
• ISSN: 1077-4114; 1536-3678
• DOI: 10.1097/00043426-199707000-00012

Wilms tumor is the most common renal neoplasm in children. The diagnosis is usually suggested by anatomic imaging and established by biopsy or resection. The principal roles of functional imaging have been the search for skeletal metastases and evaluation of renal function. We hypothesized that, like many tumors, Wilms tumors could concentrate 18F-FDG and that evaluation of the metabolic activity of these neoplasms might prove clinically useful.
Three patients with known or suspected Wilms tumors underwent positron emission tomography (PET) with 2-[fluorine-18]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) scanning (four scans). A patient with a single Wilms tumor was studied once at the time of diagnosis. The two patients with bilateral Wilms tumors were studied during therapy.
Uptake of FDG was present in the Wilms tumor studied at diagnosis, and in one of the tumors in each of the patients with bilateral disease studied during therapy. In all three cases, the results of the PET scans influenced therapeutic decisions.
PET FDG scanning may be useful for the management of selected patients with Wilms tumors.