Lower maximum standardized uptake value of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography coupled with computed tomography imaging in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients with diabetes

• The SUVmax of 18F-FDG PET/CT were compared in PDAC patients with or without DM.
• The mean SUVmax was significantly lower in DM group than that in non-DM group.
• The sensitivity of SUVmax was significantly lower in DM group than that in non-DM group.
• DM contributes to a lower SUVmax of 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with PDACs.

BackgroundThe effects of diabetes mellitus (DM) on sensitivity of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography coupled with computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) for diagnosing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) is not well known. This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of DM on the validity of 18F-FDG PET/CT in PDAC.MethodsA total of 173 patients with PDACs who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT were enrolled (75 in the DM group and 98 in the non-DM group). The maximum standardized uptake values (SUVsmax) were compared.ResultsThe mean SUVmax was significantly lower in the DM group than in the non-DM group (4.403 vs 5.998, P = .001). The sensitivity of SUVmax (cut-off value 4.0) was significantly lower in the DM group than in the non-DM group (49.3% vs 75.5%, P < .001) and also lower in normoglycemic DM patients (n = 24) than in non-DM patients (54.2% vs 75.5%, P = .038).ConclusionDM contributes to a lower SUVmax of 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with PDACs.