Pinar Akkus Gunduz

Dr. Pinar Akkus Gunduz

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

7Years (2020-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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2 February 2022 in Molecular Imaging and Radionuclide Therapy
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
MAMine Araz
Mine Araz
CSCigdem Soydal
Cigdem Soydal
PGPinar Akkus Gunduz
Pinar Akkus Gunduz
AKAyça Kırmızı
Ayça Kırmızı
BBBatuhan Bakırarar
Batuhan Bakırarar
EÖElgin Özkan
Elgin Özkan
This study aimed to investigate the role of preoperative 18fluorine-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) radiomics features and metabolic parameters of primary breast tumors in predicting hormone receptor (HR) positivity. A total of 153 patients with breast carcinoma who underwent preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT were included. All PET/CT images were retrospectively reevaluated. Radiomics features of primary breast lesions reflecting tumor heterogeneity as well as standardized uptake value (SUV) metrics (SUVmin, SUVmean, SUVmax, and SUVpeak) and volumetric parameters such as metabolic tumor volume and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were extracted by commercial texture analysis software package (LIFEx; https://www.lifexsoft.org/ index.php). WEKA and SPSS were used for statistical analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine texture features predicting HR positivity. Accuracy, F-measure, precision, recall, and precision-recall curve area were used as data-mining performance criteria of texture features to predict HR positivity. None of the radiomics parameters were significant in predicting HR status. Only SUV metrics and TLG were statistically important. Mean ± standard deviations for SUVmean, SUVmax, and SUVpeak for the HR-negative group were significantly higher than those in the HR-positive group (6.73±4.36 vs. 5.20±3.32, p=0.027; 11.55±7.42 vs. 8.63±5.23, p=0.006; and 8.37±6.81 vs. 5.72±4.86; p=0.012). Cut-off values of SUVmean, SUVmax, and SUVpeak for the prediction of HR positivity were 4.93, 8.35, and 6.02, respectively. Among data-mining methods, logistic regression showed the best performance with accuracy of 0.762. In addition to the relatively limited number of patients in this study, radiomics parameters cannot predict the HR status of primary breast cancer. SUV levels of the HR-negative group were significantly higher than those of the HR-positive group. To clarify the role of metabolic and radiomics parameters in predicting HR status in breast cancer, further studies involving a larger study population are needed.

17 November 2025 in Diagnostics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
HYHulya PEKER (ex YALCIN)
Hulya PEKER (ex YALCIN)
PGPinar Akkus Gunduz
Pinar Akkus Gunduz
MSMehmet Samsum
Mehmet Samsum
ESEmel ÇOLAK SAMSUM
Emel ÇOLAK SAMSUM
AEAyşenur Erol
Ayşenur Erol
NENesibe Zeynep ERYAVUZ
Nesibe Zeynep ERYAVUZ
Objective: We sought to assess the diagnostic performance of quantitative bone SPECT/CT standardized uptake values (SUVs) in diabetic foot osteomyelitis (DFO) and their associations with inflammatory biomarkers. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 150 consecutive patients who underwent three-phase bone scintigraphy and foot SPECT/CT (November 2016–December 2024) for DFO before antibiotic treatment; 117 with complete imaging and laboratory data were analyzed. Lesion and contralateral SUVs (SUVmax, SUVmean) were compared. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine discrimination and optimal cut-offs (Youden index). Associations with biomarkers (C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), CRP/albumin (ESR × CRP) and hematologic/coagulation indices including mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) were evaluated using Spearman correlations. Results: Lesion uptake and contralateral uptake were SUVmax 10.94 ± 7.36 vs. 3.62 ± 1.70; SUVmean 4.38 ± 3.63 vs. 0.93 ± 0.50. Discrimination was excellent; SUVmax was AUC 0.921 (cut-off 4.47; sensitivity 0.93; specificity 0.75) and SUVmean was AUC 0.961 (cut-off 1.49; sensitivity 0.91; specificity 0.89). CRP and ESR showed weak but consistent positive correlations with SUVs (ρ ≈ 0.25–0.30). The ESR × CRP value correlated most strongly (e.g., with SUVmean ρ = 0.35), and CRP/albumin showed a modest positive association. MCH (ρ ≈ −0.20) and aPTT (ρ ≈ −0.37) were inversely related. Conclusions: Quantitative SPECT/CT provides excellent lesion–contralateral discrimination in DFO. SUVs—particularly SUVmean—track inflammatory burden, supporting their use as practical quantitative adjuncts to clinical and laboratory assessment. Study-specific cut-offs are promising but require local validation.

29 April 2020 in Molecular Imaging and Radionuclide Therapy
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
CSCigdem Soydal
Cigdem Soydal
PGPinar Akkus Gunduz
Pinar Akkus Gunduz
MAMine Araz
Mine Araz
GUGüngör Utkan
Güngör Utkan
Brachial plexopathy is a significant cause of pain and disability in patients with breast cancer. Major causes of brachial plexopathy in patients with breast cancer are metastatic invasion or radiation damage to the plexus. Differentiation between the two pathologies is important for appropriate treatment planning. The complicated anatomy of the plexus makes this a difficult area to image accurately. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the imaging modality of choice for diagnostic evaluation of these cases. We presented a case to demonstrate the role of F-18-flourodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computerized tomography for confirming metastatic brachial plexopathy when MRI findings were suspicious and for differentiating radiation-induced brachial plexopathy from metastatic plexopathy.

27 May 2025 in Clinical Nuclear Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
CSCigdem Soydal
Cigdem Soydal
BDBurak Demir
Burak Demir
PGPinar Akkus Gunduz
Pinar Akkus Gunduz
MBMuhammet Halil Md Baltacioglu
Muhammet Halil Md Baltacioglu
MAMine Araz
Mine Araz
NKNuriye Ozlem Kucuk
Nuriye Ozlem Kucuk
Purpose: To evaluate the potential of integrated multiparametric 68Ga DOTATATE PET/MR imaging for assessing liver lesions of well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and to identify imaging parameters predictive of primary tumor localization. Patients and Methods: This retrospective study involves patients with well-differentiated NETs who underwent 68Ga DOTATATE PET/MRI between September 2018 and November 2024. Inclusion criteria required histopathologically proven NETs with 68Ga DOTATATE-avid liver metastases and complete multiparametric MRI sequences. PET and MRI-derived variables, including SUVmax, ADCmin, T/L ratios, and tumor volume (log-transformed tumor volume: LOGVOL), were analyzed. Linear mixed-effects models and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify relationships between imaging features and tumor characteristics. ROC analyses were conducted to evaluate the accuracy of primary tumor origin predictions. Results: Of 43 imaging sessions, 14 patients (7 male, 7 female; median age 59 y) with 181 lesions met the inclusion criteria. SUVmax was significantly correlated with LOGVOL and contrast enhancement parameters (eg, WOliver). Linear mixed-effects models revealed that LOGVOL and WOliver were independent predictors of SUVmax. In the binomial regression analysis, tumor precontrast T1 intensity, T/Lart, and T/Lven were significant factors in differentiation between pancreatic and gastrointestinal (GIS) NET metastases, with pancreatic tumors demonstrating higher T/Lart and GIS tumors exhibiting higher T/Lven and T1 intensity. Logistic regression achieved an AUC of 0.911, with a sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 76%. Conclusion: 68Ga DOTATATE PET/MRI effectively integrates metabolic and anatomical imaging for characterizing NET liver metastases. Parameters such as LOGVOL and WOliver independently predict SUVmax, while precontrast T1 intensity, T/Lart, and T/Lven assist in differentiating pancreatic from GIS NETs. These findings underscore the potential of 68Ga DOTATATE PET/MRI in personalized NET management and suggest avenues for further research to confirm these results.

26 March 2020 in Nuclear Medicine Seminars
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
MAMine Araz
Mine Araz
PGPinar Akkus Gunduz
Pinar Akkus Gunduz

26 March 2022 in TURKISH JOURNAL of CLINICS and LABORATORY
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MAMine Araz
Mine Araz
BGBaşak GÜLPINAR
Başak GÜLPINAR
PGPinar Akkus Gunduz
Pinar Akkus Gunduz
EÖElgin Özkan
Elgin Özkan
MSMustafa - Sahin
Mustafa - Sahin
Aim: In this study, we aimed to compare brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity on 18F-Flourodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (PET)/Computed Tomography(CT) in patients with and without active cancer. Material and Methods: Results of the patients who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT between January 2014 and February 2018 in Nuclear Medicine Department were evaluated retrospectively. Age, gender, body mass index (BMI), serum levels of glucose, bilirubin, total cholesterol (T-chol), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglyceride (TG) of the patients were noted from the hospital database. Mean outdoor temperature of the day during PET/CT imaging was searched from National Weather Service archives. Diagnosis and disease activity status on PET/CT imaging were evaluated retrospectively. Standardized uptake value (SUV) and brown adipose tissue volume (BAV) were calculated on PET/CT images. Additionally, hepatic attenuation index and subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness (SCATT) were calculated from CT images. Difference between median SUV and BAV among groups with and without active cancer was analyzed. Results: Totally 78 (54 F; 24 M; mean age 34.415.6) patients who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT for different oncological indications were included in the analysis. All the patients had different degrees of BAT uptake on PET/CT images. Median (min-max) values for SUV, BAV and SCATT were found as 8.0 (2.7-37.0), 26.9 (2.1- 116.0) cm3 and 15.0 (3.0- 46.0) mm, respectively. Hepatic attenuation index was 0-5%, 6-30% and >30% in 56 (71%), 20 (26%) and 2 (3%) patients, respectively. Active disease was observed in 26 (33%) patients during PET/CT imaging. In the evaluation of the distribution of the adipose tissue parameters, median SUV (p=0.008) and BAV (p=0.008) of groups with and without active cancer were found statistically significant. Conclusion: BAT activity in patients with active cancer seems to be higher than that in patients without active disease, supporting the possible role of adipose tissue activation on cancer development and progression.