18F-FDG uptake of the spinal cord was decreased after conventional dose radiotherapy in esophageal cancer patients

Objective We retrospectively investigated changes of 18 F-fluorodeocyglucose ( 18 F-FDG) uptake in the spinal cord, inside and outside the radiation fields, in patients with esophageal cancer before and after conventional dose radiotherapy. Methods A total of 17 consecutive patients with esophageal cancer (16 males, one female; age 50–83 years, mean 67.0 years), who underwent conventional dose radiotherapy and 18 F-FDG PET/CT before and 5.1 months (range 1.6–8.6 months) after the radiotherapy, were retrospectively evaluated. Sixteen patients had esophageal cancer and one patient had esophageal metastasis from thyroid cancer. Mean standardized uptake values (SUVmean) of the cervical, thoracic (inside and outside the radiation fields) and lumbar spinal cord were measured. Results SUVmean of the thoracic spinal cord inside the radiation field was decreased significantly after radiotherapy compared to those before radiotherapy ( p