Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 25, 2026
Establishment of a Primary Culture of Patient-derived Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Published on: April 11, 2018
Detection and grading of soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities with (18)F-3'-fluoro-3'-deoxy-L-thymidine
David C P Cobben1, Philip H Elsinga, Albert J H Suurmeijer
1Department of Surgical Oncology, Groningen University Hospital, Groningen, the Netherlands. D.C.P.Cobben@pet.azg.nl
Purpose:
The aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility of (18)F-3'-fluoro-3'-deoxy-L-thymidine positron emission tomography (FLT-PET) for the detection and grading of soft tissue sarcoma (STS).
Experimental Design:
Nineteen patients with 20 STSs of the extremities were scanned, using attenuation corrected whole-body FLT-PET. Standardized uptake values (SUVs) and tumor:nontumor ratios (TNTs) were compared with histopathological parameters using French and Japanese grading systems.
Results:
Mean SUV, maximal SUV, and TNT could differentiate between low-grade (grade 1; n = 6) STS and high-grade (grade 2 and 3; n = 14) STS according to the French grading system (P = 0.001). Mean SUV, max SUV, and TNT correlated with mitotic score, MIB-1 score, the French and Japanese grading system (* = 0.550-0.747).
Conclusions:
FLT-PET is able to visualize STS and differentiate between low-grade and high-grade STS. The uptake of FLT correlates with the proliferation of STS.
