What does this research mean for the field?

Male sex and higher weight independently predict the presence of myocardial FDG uptake, while diabetes and coronary artery disease predict its absence in adults with cancer undergoing PET/CT scans. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

March 3, 2026Open Access

Captação Miocárdica de Fluordesoxiglicose-18F na Tomografia por Emissão de Pósitrons/Tomografia Computadorizada: Uma Janela para Fenótipos Cardiovasculares e Assinaturas Metabólicas em Pacientes com Câncer

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Observational. Population: Adults with cancer undergoing oncologic 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT scans, mean age 56 ± 15.8 years, 64% women, 39.9% hypertensive, 19.7% diabetic, 3% with coronary artery disease (n=983). Intervention: Observation of myocardial FDG uptake on PET/CT scans vs. No myocardial FDG uptake. Primary outcome: Presence versus absence of visually defined myocardial 18F-FDG uptake on PET/CT scan (Male sex and higher weight independently predicted presence of myocardial FDG uptake (p=0.0008 and p=0.0001 respectively); diabetes and coronary artery disease independently predicted absence of uptake (p=0.01 and p=0.007 respectively), p=Male sex p=0.0008; weight p=0.0001; diabetes p=0.01; coronary artery disease p=0.007).

Key Result

Male sex and higher weight independently predicted presence of myocardial FDG uptake, while diabetes and coronary artery disease predicted absence of uptake in adults with cancer undergoing PET/CT scans.

Key Points

Increased myocardial uptake of fluorodeoxyglucose-18F is observed in relation to cardiovascular risk factors, highlighting potential cardiotoxicity.
Cardiac metabolic patterns were assessed using PET/CT scans with specific classifications based on glucose uptake levels.
Retrospective cross-sectional analysis evaluated oncologic PET/CT studies focusing on cardiovascular influences in cancer patients.
The findings suggest a need for improved cardiac risk evaluation in patients undergoing cancer treatment, with further research warranted.

Study Design

Type

Observational (n=983)

Multicenter

Structured PICO

Is there an association between cardiac metabolic patterns on oncological PET/CT and cardiovascular risk factors in cancer patients?

Population

Cancer patients undergoing oncological 18F-FDG PET/CT

Intervention

Assessment of myocardial 18F-FDG uptake patterns

Comparator

Absence (G1) vs presence (G2) of myocardial uptake/risk factors (text truncated)

Outcome

Association between cardiac metabolic patterns on oncological PET/CT and cardiovascular risk factorssurrogate

Understanding how cardiovascular risk factors influence myocardial glucose uptake on PET/CT may improve its utility in evaluating cardiotoxicity in cancer patients.

Main Result

Effect estimate: Male sex and higher weight independently predicted presence of myocardial FDG uptake (p=0.0008 and p=0.0001 respectively); diabetes and coronary artery disease independently predicted absence of uptake (p=0.01 and p=0.007 respectively)

Absolute Event Rate: 43.2% vs 56.8%

p-value: p=Male sex p=0.0008; weight p=0.0001; diabetes p=0.01; coronary artery disease p=0.007

Limitations

Retrospective cross-sectional design limits causal inference.
Patients predominantly from public healthcare with high prevalence of lymphoma and breast cancer, limiting generalizability.
No specific cardiac preparation protocols (e.g., prolonged fasting) for FDG PET/CT were used.
Definition of coronary artery disease included medication use that may have other indications, potentially misclassifying disease status.
Grouped analysis of heterogeneous cardiological and hypoglycemic medications precluded evaluation of drug-specific metabolic effects.
Absence of functional cardiac outcomes or follow-up limits understanding of clinical implications of FDG uptake patterns.

Abstract

Resumo Fundamento A tomografia por emissão de pósitrons/tomografia computadorizada (PET/CT) com fluordesoxiglicose-18F (FDG) é amplamente utilizada no manejo do câncer, mas seu papel na avaliação de cardiotoxicidade permanece incerto. Compreender como os fatores de risco cardiovascular influenciam a captação miocárdica de glicose pode aprimorar seu uso nessa área. Objetivo Investigar a associação entre padrões metabólicos cardíacos em PET/CT oncológico e fatores de risco cardiovascular. Métodos Estudo retrospectivo, transversal, que classificou exames oncológicos de PET/CT pela ausência (G1) ou presença (G2) ...

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Cite This Study

Ribeiro et al. (Thu,) conducted a observational in Adults with cancer undergoing oncologic 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT scans, mean age 56 ± 15.8 years, 64% women, 39.9% hypertensive, 19.7% diabetic, 3% with coronary artery disease (n=983). Observation of myocardial FDG uptake on PET/CT scans vs. No myocardial FDG uptake was evaluated on Presence versus absence of visually defined myocardial 18F-FDG uptake on PET/CT scan (Male sex and higher weight independently predicted presence of myocardial FDG uptake (p=0.0008 and p=0.0001 respectively); diabetes and coronary artery disease independently predicted absence of uptake (p=0.01 and p=0.007 respectively), p=Male sex p=0.0008; weight p=0.0001; diabetes p=0.01; coronary artery disease p=0.007). Male sex and higher weight independently predicted presence of myocardial FDG uptake, while diabetes and coronary artery disease predicted absence of uptake in adults with cancer undergoing PET/CT scans.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69a76889badf0bb9e87e506d https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.36660/abc.20250028

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