Highly metabolic thrombus of the portal vein: 18F fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computer tomography demonstration and clinical significance in hepatocellular carcinoma

Table 1 Clinical data on patients with high and low-metabolism thrombi of the portal vein

Patient	Age (yr)/sex	Symptoms and signs	Laboratory data	Outcome
1	55/M	No	AFP 5 ng/mL; abnormal HFT	Died of liver failure 2 mo after EPI
2	60/F	Pain in right hypochondriac region	AFP > 1000 ng/mL; abnormal HFT	Died of hepatic failure 3 mo after TACE
3	80/M	Cough	AFP 30 ng/mL; abnormal HFT	Died of renal failure 1 mo after admission
4	65/M	Ascites	AFP > 1000 ng/mL; abnormal HFT	Died of liver failure 1 mo after admission
5	44/M	Six mo after HCC resection	AFP normal; normal HFT	Recanalization

AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein level; HFT: Hepatic function test.

Table 2 Imaging data on patients with high and low-metabolism thrombi of the portal vein

Patient	US, CT, MRI findings		FDG PET/CT SUV ratio
	Liver tumor location and size	Location of PV tumor thrombus	T/NT	Th/NT	Th/DAo
1	Right and caudate lobe 11 cm × 13 cm	RPV	4.8/3.0	5.2/3.0	5.2/2.1
		LPV	4.8/5.9	5.9/3.0	5.9/2.1
2	Right lobe 8.4 cm × 9.6 cm	LPV	15.5/2.8	11.5/2.8	11.5/2.7
3	Left lobe diffuse tumor	LPV	9.0/3.6	7.9/3.6	7.9/2.4
4	Both lobes diffuse tumor	LPV	5.3/2.7	4.9/2.7	4.9/2.2
		PV	5.3/2.7	3.4/2.7	3.4/2.2
5	Six mo after right lobe lesion resection	LPV	-	3. 0/3.0	3.0/2.0

SUV: Standardized uptake value; T: Tumor target; NT: Non tumor target; Th: Thrombi; Dao: Descending aorta; RPV: Right portal vein; LPV: Left portal vein; PV: Portal vein.