• Seiji Kurata, Masatoshi Ishibashi, Koichi Azuma, Hayato Kaida, Shinzo Takamori, Kiminori Fujimoto, Maiko Kobayashi, Yasumitsu Hirose, Hisamichi Aizawa, and Naofumi Hayabuchi.
• Division of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Department of Radiology, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, 830-0011, Japan. skur@med.kurume-u.ac.jp
• Jpn J Radiol. 2010 Jul 1; 28 (6): 446-52.

PurposeThe aim of this study was to compare the results of semiquantitative analysis by(18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with plasma osteopontin levels in the same asbestos-related pleural disease population.Materials And MethodsA total of 17 patients with asbestos-related pleural disease were prospectively recruited. They underwent PET/CT, and plasma osteopontin levels were measured. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was determined from the most active pleural lesion in each patient.ResultsMalignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) was histologically proven in 6 patients, and 11 patients had proven benign asbestos-related pleural diseases (7 pleural plaques, 4 asbestos pleurisy). Significant differences in SUVmax were found between patients with MPM and those with asbestos pleurisy (P = 0.031) and between patients with MPM and those with pleural plaques (P = 0.012). A significant difference was found in the plasma osteopontin levels between patients with asbestos pleurisy and patients with pleural plaques (Bonferroni correction, P = 0.024). The SUVmax in patients with benign asbestos-related diseases was statistically positively correlated with plasma osteopontin in the same group (Spearman's r = 0.75, P < 0.05).ConclusionPET/CT might be more helpful than plasma osteopontin for distinguishing benign asbestos-related pleural diseases from MPM, and the SUVmax in benign asbestos-related pleural diseases may reflect changes in pleural inflammation.

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