Meta-Analysis of the Correlation between Apparent Diffusion Coefficient and Standardized Uptake Value in Malignant...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Diffusion-weighted MRI's apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT's standard uptake value (SUV) are key imaging biomarkers in oncology.
• Understanding the relationship between ADC and SUV can offer insights into tumor biology and treatment response.

Purpose of the Study:

• To perform a meta-analysis investigating the correlation between ADC and SUV in cancer patients.
• To explore potential variations in this correlation across different cancer types.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases for studies correlating ADC and SUV.
• Inclusion of 49 studies with 1927 patients; application of Fisher's r-to-z transformation for correlation coefficients.
• Subgroup analyses based on tumor type to assess heterogeneity.

Main Results:

• A pooled negative correlation (r = -0.35) was found between ADC and SUV across all included studies, with significant heterogeneity (I² = 78.4%).
• Correlation coefficients varied by cancer type, ranging from -0.12 for lymphoma to -0.59 for pancreatic cancer.
• Brain tumors, cervix carcinoma, and pancreatic cancer showed higher negative correlations.

Conclusions:

• An average negative correlation exists between ADC and SUV in cancer patients.
• The correlation strength varies significantly depending on the specific cancer type.
• Further prospective studies are recommended to validate these findings and explore their clinical utility.