Significance of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) for detection of renal cell carcinoma and immunohistochemical glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1) expression in the cancer

Objective: Positron emission tomography (PET) is now primarily used in oncological indication owing to the successful application of fluorine‐18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in an increasing number of clinical indications. Glucose transporter 1 (GLUT‐1) is recognized as a major early marker of cellular malignant transformation. The aims of this study were to assess whether FDG‐PET is a useful diagnostic tool for renal cell carcinoma and to compare the pathologic characteristics. Methods: Nineteen consecutive patients who had renal cell carcinoma were examined using FDG‐PET preoperatively. The results of PET were then compared to the histology obtained after radical surgery and the immunoreactivity of GLUT‐1 was also studied. Results: Pathologic examination confirmed that all 19 patients suffered from renal cell carcinoma. Increased FDG uptake was found in six of the 19 patients (31.5%). The immunohistochemical examination of GLUT‐1 in renal cell carcinoma produced different results in each patient. There was no correlation with GLUT‐1 immunoreactivity and FDG‐PET positivity. Conclusion: These results suggest that FDG‐PET may not be a useful diagnostic tool for renal cell carcinoma.