The relationship between 18F-FCH uptake intensity and cell content in parathyroid lesions

To investigate the relationship between cell content and histopathological features of parathyroid lesions and 18F-FCH uptake intensity on PET/CT images.

Patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (age > 18) who were referred to 18F-FCH PET/CT were involved. All patients underwent parathyroidectomy. Correlation of SUVmax with following factors were statistically analysed: serum PTH, Ca, P levels and histopathological parameters, total absolute amounts of chief cell, oxyphyllic cell and clear cell components calculated by the multiplication of the volume of the parathyroid lesion and the percentage of each type of cell content (called as Absolute_chief, Absolute_oxyphyllic and Absolute_clear reflecting the total amount of each cell group).

A total of 34 samples from 34 patients (6M, 28F, mean age: 53.32 ± 15.15, min: 14, max: 84) who had a positive 18F-FCH PET/CT localizing at least one parathyroid lesion were involved. In the whole study group, SUVmax was found to be correlated with the greatest diameter and volume of the lesion and Absolute_chief (p = 0.004, p = 0.002 and p = 0.035, respectively). In the subgroup analysis of 28 samples with longest diameter > 1 cm, the correlation between SUVmax and Absolute_chief remained significant (p = 0.036) and correlation between SUVmax and volume and longest diameter became stronger (p = 0.011 and p > 0.001, respectively). No correlation was found between SUVmax and Absolute_oxyphyllic or Absolute_clear.

There might be a relationship between 18F-FCH uptake intensity and chief cell content in patients with parathyroid adenoma. Further studies with larger patient groups would be beneficial to support the data.