Diagnostic performance of F-18 FDG PET/CT for prediction of KRAS mutation in colorectal cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the diagnostic performance of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for the prediction of v-Ki-ras-2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) mutation in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

The PubMed and EMBASE database, from the earliest available date of indexing through April 30, 2018, were searched for studies evaluating the diagnostic performance of F-18 FDG PET/CT for prediction of KRAS mutation in CRC patients.

Results

Across 9 studies (804 patients), the pooled sensitivity for F-18 FDG PET/CT was 0.66 (95% CI 0.60–0.73) without heterogeneity (I² = 34.1, p = 0.14) and a pooled specificity of 0.67 (95% CI 0.62–0.72) without heterogeneity (I² = 1.63, p = 0.42). Likelihood ratio (LR) syntheses gave an overall positive likelihood ratio (LR+) of 2.0 (95% CI 1.7–2.4) and negative likelihood ratio (LR−) of 0.5 (95% CI 0.41–0.61). The pooled diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) was 4 (95% CI 3–6). Hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve indicates that the areas under the curve were 0.69 (95% CI 0.65–0.73).

Conclusion

The current meta-analysis showed the low sensitivity and specificity of F-18 FDG PET/CT for prediction of KRAS mutation in CRC patients. The DOR was very low and the likelihood ratio scatter-gram indicated that F-18 FDG PET/CT might not be useful for prediction of KRAS mutation and not for its exclusion. Therefore, cautious application and interpretation should be paid to the F-18 FDG PET/CT for prediction of KRAS mutation in CRC patients.