Title:FDG PET/CT in the Staging of Lung Cancer
Volume: 13
Issue: 3
Author(s): Mohsen Farsad*
Affiliation:
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Central Hospital of Bolzano, Via Lorenz Böhler 5, 39100 Bolzano, Bozen,Italy
Keywords:
Lung cancer, PET/CT, FDG, staging, therapy, diagnostic workup, imaging.
Abstract:
Background: Accurate staging is crucial for the proper management of patients with nonsmall
cell lung cancer, especially for choosing the best treatment strategy. Different Imaging methods
are used to stage patients with non-small cell lung cancer. In the last two decades, FDG PET/CT is
carried out in almost all the main Hospitals around the world in this setting.
Objective: The aim of this paper is to focus on the value of integrated FDG PET/CT in the TNM staging
of the non-small cell lung cancer.
Methods: A non-systematic revision of the literature was performed in order to identify all papers
about the role of FDG PET/CT in the evaluation of non-small cell lung cancer and to highlight the
value of FDG PET/CT in this setting.
Results: Many data are now available about this topic, including also randomized controlled trials.
FDG PET/CT is of limited added value in the characterization of T status but it increases the diagnostic
accuracy for the assessment of the nodal status. The main advantage of FDG PET/CT over conventional
imaging methods is its higher sensitivity in identifying extra-thoracic metastases, especially bone
and adrenal lesions.
Conclusion: PET/CT with FDG should be included in the diagnostic work-up of patients with lung
cancer, because it provides useful information for appropriate therapy.