18F-FDG PET显像在非小细胞肺癌临床分期中的价值

目的 探讨^18F-脱氧葡萄糖-正电子发射体层显像(^18F-FDG PET)在非小细胞肺癌(NscLC)临床分期中的价值。方法 105例NSCLC患者于放射治疗前行^18F-FDG PET检查,进行PET分期,并将PET分期和CT分期结果进行比较分析。结果 ^18F-FDG PET扫描使38例NSCLC患者分期改变,其中分期升级31例,分期降级7例。21例分期升级者PET检查发现了远处转移灶,其治疗方案由根治性治疗改为姑息性治疗;6例分期降级者进行了根治性手术治疗,其中5例PET分期与病理分期一致。PET发现远处转移灶的几率随PET扫描前分期的升级而上升,其中Ⅰ期10．0％(2／20),Ⅱ期14．3％(3／21),Ⅲ期25．0％(16／64)。结论 ^18F-FDG PET显像改变了36．2％(38／105)NSCLC患者的临床分期,影响了其治疗策略。^18F-FDG PET显像对NSCLC患者的临床分期有重要的参考价值。     

F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography staging in radical radiotherapy candidates with nonsmall cell lung carcinoma: powerful correlation with survival and high impact on treatment

BACKGROUND: Successful treatment of nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) with radical radiotherapy (RT) requires accurate delineation of tumor extent. Conventional computed tomography-based noninvasive staging often estimates intrathoracic thoracic tumor extent incorrectly and fails to detect distant metastasis. High sensitivity and specificity are reported for F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) staging in potentially resectable NSCLC. The authors investigated FDG-PET staging in radical RT candidates with unresectable NSCLC. METHODS: The authors prospectively studied 153 consecutive patients with unresectable NSCLC who were candidates for radical RT after conventional staging and had PET scans. Patients were allocated both "before PET" and "after PET" stages. Subsequent management was recorded. Survival analysis was used to compare validity of pre-PET and post-PET staging. RESULTS: After PET, 107 patients (70%) actually received radical therapies (radical RT with or without concurrent chemotherapy, n = 102; radical surgery, n = 5); 46 patients (30%) received palliative treatment because of PET-detected distant metastasis (n = 28; 18%) or extensive locoregional disease (n = 18; 12%). Palliative therapies were RT (n = 33), chemotherapy (n = 12), or supportive care (n = 1). All five surgically treated patients underwent potentially curative resections after downstaging by PET. For radically treated patients, post-PET stage (P = 0.0041) but not pre-PET stage (P = 0.19) was strongly associated with survival. Radically treated patients survived longer than those treated palliatively (P = 0.02; 1-year survival, 69% and 44%, respectively; 2-year survival, 44% radical; no palliative patients had 2-yr follow-up). CONCLUSIONS: Positron emission tomography-assisted staging detected unsuspected metastasis in 20%, strongly influenced choice of treatment strategy, frequently impacted RT planning, and was a powerful predictor of survival. Potential impact of FDG-PET is even greater in radical RT candidates with NSCLC than in surgical candidates.     

Impact of computed tomography (CT) and 18F-deoxyglucose-coincidence detection emission tomography (FDG-CDET) image fusion for optimisation of conformal radiotherapy in non-small-cell lung cancers]

To report a retrospective study concerning the impact of fused 18F-fluorodeoxy-D-glucose (FDG)-hybrid positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) images on three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) planning for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and one patients consecutively treated for stages I-III NSCLC were studied. Each patient underwent CT and FDG-hybrid PET for simulation treatment in the same radiation treatment position. Images were coregistered using five fiducial markers. Target volume delineation was initially performed on the CT images and the corresponding FDG-PET data were subsequently used as an overlay to the CT data to define target volume. RESULTS: FDG-PET identified previously undetected distant metastatic disease in 8 patients making them ineligible for curative CRT (one patient presented some positive uptakes corresponding to concomitant pulmonary tuberculosis). Another patient was ineligible for curative treatment because fused CT/PET images demonstrated excessively extensive intrathoracic disease. The gross tumor volume (GTV) was decreased by CT/PET image fusion in 21 patients (23%) and was increased in 24 patients (26%). The GTV reduction was > or = 25% in 7 patients because CT/PET image fusion reduced pulmonary GTV in 6 patients (3 patients with atelectasis) and mediastinal nodal GTV in 1 patient. The GTV increase was > or = 25% in 14 patients due to an increase of the pulmonary GTV in 11 patients (4 patients with atelectasis) and detection of occult mediastinal lymph node involvement in 3 patients. Among 81 patients receiving a total dose > or = 60 Gy at ICRU point, after CT/PET image fusion, the percentage of total lung volume receiving more than 20 Gy (VL20) increased in 15 cases and decreased in 22 cases. The percentage of total heart volume receiving more than 36 Gy increased in 8 patients and decreased in 14 patients. The spinal cord volume receiving at least 45 Gy (2 patients) decreased. After multivariate analysis, one single independent factor made significant effect of FDG/PET on the modification of the size of the GTV: tumor with atelectasis (P = 0.0001). Conclusion. - Our study confirms that integrated hybrid PET/CT in the treatment position and coregistered images have an impact on treatment planning and management of patients with NSCLC. FDG images using dedicated PET scanners with modern image fusion techniques and respiration-gated acquisition protocols could improve CT/PET image coregistration. However, prospective studies with histological correlation are necessary and the impact on treatment outcome remains to be demonstrated.     

18F FDG PET/CT对恶性肿瘤放射治疗方法的影响

目的：探讨^18F FDG PET／CT对恶性肿瘤放射治疗的影响方法：对148例恶性肿瘤治疗前行PET／CT扫描，对扫描前后检出病灶进行定性分析，重新确定期别和治疗方法结果：PET／CT扫描发现恶性或可疑病灶79个，25个病灶排除或修正诊断52例检出病灶与检查前不符，28例重新分期，12例修正诊断，57例治疗方法发生改变。结论：放射治疗前PET／CT检查，提高诊断准确性和定位的精确性，减少病灶的遗漏，对制定合理有效的治疗方案具有指导价值。     

Value of 18F-FDG PET in Clinical Staging of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the feasibility of 18F-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) in the staging of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).METHODS 105 patients with NSCLC had been examined by 18F-FDG PET before radiotherapy. The results of the 18F-FDG PET examination were compared with those of CT:RESULTS The staging was changed in 38 patients because of 18F-FDG PET findings, with PET resulting in upstaging in 31 patients and downstaging in seven patients. Because of distant metastasis detected by PET, 21 patients received palliative treatment. Six of the seven downstaged patients underwent radical surgery, among which the PET findings were concordant with the pathological findings in five patients. Distant metastasis detected by PET elevated the pre-PET stage: at stage 110.0% (2/20), stage Ⅱ 14.3% (3/21 ) and stage Ⅲ 25.0% (16/64), respectively.CONCLUSION 18F-FDG PET, by changing clinical staging in 36.2% (38/105)of NSCLC patients, has an impact on treatment strategy in NSCLC patients.     

High rates of tumor growth and disease progression detected on serial pretreatment fluorodeoxyglucose‐positron emission tomography/computed tomography scans in radical radiotherapy candidates with nonsmall cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND:

The authors studied growth and progression of untreated nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by comparing diagnostic and radiotherapy (RT) planning fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)‐positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) scans before proposed radical chemo‐RT.

METHODS:

Patients enrolled on a prospective clinical trial were eligible for this analysis if they underwent 2 pretreatment whole body FDG‐PET/CT scans, >7 days apart. Scan 1 was performed for diagnosis/disease staging and scan 2 for RT planning. Interscan comparisons included disease stage, metabolic characteristics, tumor doubling times, and change in treatment intent.

RESULTS:

Eighty‐two patients underwent planning PET/CT scans between October 2004 and February 2007. Of these, 28 patients (61% stage III, 18% stage II) had undergone prior staging PET/CT scans. The median interscan period was 24 days (range, 8‐176 days). Interscan disease progression (TNM stage) was detected in 11 (39%) patients. The probability of upstaging within 24 days was calculated to be 32% (95% confidence interval [CI], 18%‐49%). Treatment intent changed from curative to palliative in 8 (29%) cases, in 7 because of PET. For 17 patients who underwent serial PET/CT scans under standardized conditions, there was a mean relative interscan increase of 19% in tumor maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) (P = .022), 16% in average SUV (P = .004), and 116% in percentage injected dose (P = .002). Estimated doubling time of FDG avid tumor was 66 days (95% CI, 51‐95 days).

CONCLUSIONS:

Rapid tumor progression was detected in patients with untreated, predominantly stage III, NSCLC on serial FDG‐PET/CT imaging, highlighting the need for prompt diagnosis, staging, and initiation of therapy in patients who are candidates for potentially curative therapy. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.     

18FDG PET/CT对非小细胞肺癌N2期淋巴结诊断的价值

目的:通过对18FDG PET/CT、CT对非小细胞肺癌N2期纵隔淋巴结的诊断与术后病理结果比较,探讨18FDG PET/CT对N2期淋巴结的诊断价值。方法:72例原发NSCLC患者共切除纵隔N2期淋巴结280枚,回顾性分析术前CT及18FDG PET/CT检查对纵隔N2期淋巴结的诊断结果,并与病理结果分别进行对比分析。结果:175枚N2期淋巴结CT诊断阳性,其诊断的敏感度、特异度、准确度、阳性预测值及阴性预测值分别为:74.0%、50%、62.5%、61.7%及63.8%;而172枚N2期淋巴结18FDG PET/CT诊断阳性,其诊断的敏感度、特异度、准确度、阳性预测值及阴性预测值分别为:89.0%、68.7%、79.3%、75.6%及85.2%,均明显优于CT（P＜0.05）。而105例短径<10 mm的纵隔淋巴结中,36.2%（38/105）为转移淋巴结,18FDG PET/CT对CT诊断阴性的纵隔淋巴结的诊断敏感度、特异度、准确度、阳性及阴性预测值分别为:86.8%、88.1%、87.6%、80.5%及92.2%;其中高代谢的N2期小淋巴结主要分布于2R、4R/L、7组:36.4%（12/33）、27.3%（9/33）、36.4%（12/33）。结论:18FDG PET/CT对肺癌N2期纵隔淋巴结的诊断价值明显优于CT,尤其对于纵隔内短径<10 mm淋巴结转移的诊断具有明显优势。     

FDG PET判断鼻咽癌放疗后鼻咽病灶残留的临床价值

背景与目的：18F－2脱氧葡萄糖（FDG）正电子发射计算机断层显像（PET）在判断恶性肿瘤治疗后病灶残留上的应用是放射肿瘤学目前研究的热点之一,本文旨在探讨FDG PET显像在鼻咽癌放射治疗后鼻咽肿瘤残留中的应用。方法：25例鼻咽癌放疗后,临床疑咽肿瘤残留,均行FDG PET显像,显像时间为放疗后2－6个月,其中23例同期行CT检查,最后诊断依靠病理检查和临床随访。结果：25例患者中FDG PET显像阳性18例,其中4例假阳性,阴性7例,其中2例假阴性,FDG PET显像的准确率为76．0％（19／25）,CT检查的准确率为52．2％（12／23）,11例CT未见鼻咽肿瘤残留,FDG PET显示其中2例有鼻咽局部FDG异常浓聚;7例CT诊为肿瘤残留,FDG PET均显示局部病变有FDG异常浓聚,5例CT未能确定残留,PET显示3例FDG异常浓聚,12例FDG异常浓聚的病变处经活检病理证实为肿瘤残留。结论：判断鼻咽癌放疗后鼻咽肿瘤残留,FDG PET比CT有更高的准确性。     

The impact of FDG PET on the management of occult primary head and neck tumours

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of positron-emission tomography (PET) with 18F-labelled fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) in the management of occult primary head and neck tumours.Materials and methods: We reviewed 16 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and one patient with undifferentiated carcinoma of cervical lymph nodes (N1-4; N2a-9; N2b-2; N3-2). All patients had full clinical assessment, including examination under anaesthesia (EUA), with biopsy of all suspicious areas and random biopsies of sites likely to harbour an occult primary site. Nine patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head and neck, three underwent computed tomography (CT) and five underwent both CT and MRI. None of these studies were able to locate a primary tumour. Patients received 350 MBq FDG intravenously. Emission transmission scans of the extra-cranial head, neck and thorax were obtained using an ECAT Exact 47 at least 60 min after injection. The images were interpreted by the same radiologist experienced in PET, independent of the final outcome. The influence of FDG PET on management was assessed on review of the patients’ notes after treatment or when treatment had been deemed unnecessary.Results: FDG PET suggested a primary site in eight of the 17 patients (tongue base 5; nasopharynx 1; tonsil 1; supraglottis 1). Pathological confirmation was obtained in four patients and one patient died of progressive disease at the primary site. In nine patients, the primary site was not identified on FDG PET. In six of these patients, no primary site was found during follow-up (range 8–36 months; mean 20 months). One patient died before treatment commenced, and there were two histologically confirmed false-negative FDG PET results: one tonsil SCC and one lateral pharyngeal wall SCC. FDG PET affected treatment plans in nine of the 17 (53%) patients in whom a primary site was suggested (altered radiotherapy plan 6; radiotherapy with curative intent to palliative radiotherapy 1; radiotherapy to surgery and post-operative radiotherapy 1), and in one patient where no occult primary was localised (radiotherapy to surgery 1). FDG PET had a sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of 62%, 66%, 62% and 62%, respectively.     

18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG‐PET/CT) imaging in the staging and prognosis of inflammatory breast cancer

BACKGROUND:

To prospectively assess fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG‐PET/CT) staging and prognosis value in patients with suspected inflammatory breast cancer (IBC).

METHODS:

Sixty‐two women (mean age 50.7 ± 11.4 years) presenting with unilateral inflammatory breast tumors (59 invasive carcinomas; 3 mastitis) underwent a PET/CT scan before biopsy.

RESULTS:

PET/CT scan was positive for the primary malignant tumor in 100% and false positive in 2 of 3 benign mastitis. In 59 IBC patients, FDG nodal foci were detected in axillary (90%; n = 53) and extra‐axillary areas (56%; n = 33) ipsilateral to the cancer. Compared with clinical examination, the axillary lymph node status by PET/CT was upstaged and downstaged in 35 and 5 patients, respectively. In 7 of 9 N0 patients, the axillary lymph node positivity on PET/CT was correct, as revealed by pathological postsurgery assessment (not available in the 2 remaining patients). The nodal foci were compared with preoperative fine needle aspiration and/or pathological postchemotherapy findings available in 44 patients and corresponded to 38 true positive, 4 false‐negative, and 2 false‐positive cases. In 18 of 59 IBC patients (31%), distant lesions were found. On the basis of a univariate analysis of the first enrolled patients (n = 42), among 28 patients who showed intense tumoral uptake (standard uptake value_max>5), the 11 patients with distant lesions had a worse prognosis than the 17 patients without distant lesions (P = .04).

CONCLUSIONS:

FDG‐PET/CT imaging provides additional invaluable information regarding nodal status or distant metastases in IBC patients and should be considered in the initial staging. It seems also that some prognostic information can be derived from FDG uptake characteristics. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.     

Role of 18F-FDG PET for evaluating malignant pleural mesothelioma

Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) is a relatively rare neoplasia characterized by a poor prognosis. Recent studies show that new therapeutic approaches can lead to an improvement in life quality and to a prolonged survival; therefore, proper evaluation of MPM before, as well as after, therapy, is needed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of 18F-FDG photon emission tomography (PET) scan compared to computed tomography (CT) findings in patients affected by MPM, whether untreated or already treated. We studied 15 consecutive patients (13 male and 2 female) with a histological diagnosis of MPM, with a mean age of 69.9 years (range: 38-78 years old) and a recent total-body CT scan. Five (5) patients were studied for staging, while 10 patients were studied after therapy. An FDG PET scan was carried out 60 minutes after an intravenous (i.v.) injection of 370 MBq of 18F-FDG. For each patient, we compared the PET stage to the CT stage, and evaluated the role of PET in choosing a therapeutic approach. In 9 of 15 (60%) patients, there was no difference between the PET and the CT stage. In 2 of 15 (13%) patients, PET upstaged the disease, while in 4 of 15 (27%) patients PET downstaged MPM. According to these results, patient management was changed in 3 cases. Specifically, 1 patient was excluded from surgery, and 2 patients had different chemotherapy. These data suggest that PET is useful in the evaluation of MPM, giving additional data that can clarify doubtful CT findings, especially regarding lymph node involvement and distant lesions. In conclusion, FDG PET was found to play a worth-while role in patient management.     

Is CT scan still necessary for staging in Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients in the PET/CT era?

BACKGROUND: The clinical impact of fused PET/CT data on staging and patient management of Hodgkin disease (HD) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) was assessed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 103 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed NHL (n = 68) and HD (n = 35) were assessed retrospectively. Three comparisons were carried out in an attempt to assess the added value of each modality. RESULTS: For NHL patients, there were significant differences between staging by CT versus PET/CT (P = 0.0001). Disease was upstaged by PET/CT in 31% (mostly in stages I and II) and downstaged in only 1% of patients. In 25% of the patients, the treatment approach was changed according to CT versus PET/CT findings. For HD patients, disease was upstaged by PET/CT in 32% and downstaged by PET/CT in 15% (P = NS). As for NHL, upstaging by PET/CT versus CT was evident mostly for stages I and II. The treatment strategy was altered as determined by CT versus PET/CT in 45% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of PET/CT to CT changed the management decisions in approximately a quarter of NHL and a third of HD patients, mostly in early disease stages. Thus, PET/CT performed as the initial staging procedure may well obviate the need for additional diagnostic CT in the majority of patients.     

Value of ^18F-FDG PET in Clinical Staging of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the feasibility of ^18F-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (^18F-FDG PET) in the staging of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC). METHODS 105 patients with NSCLC had been examined by ^18F-FDG PET before radiotherapy. The results of the ^18F-FDG PET examination were compared with those of CT.RESULTS The staging was changed in 38 patients because of ^18F-FDG PET findings, with PET resulting in upstaging in 31 patients and downstaging in seven patients. Because of distant metastasis detected by PET, 21 patients received palliative treatment. Six of the seven downstaged patients underwent radical surgery, among which the PET findings were concordant with the pathological findings in five patients. Distant metastasis detected by PET elevated the pre-PET stage: at stage 110.0% (2/20), stage Ⅱ 14.3% (3/21) and stage Ⅲ 25.0% (16/64), respectively.CONCLUSION ^18F-FDG PET, by changing clinical staging in 36.2% (38/105) of NSCLC patients, has an impact on treatment strategy in NSCLC patients.     

Pitfalls in lymph node staging with positron emission tomography in non-small cell lung cancer patients

BACKGROUND: The evidence of clinical value of positron emission tomography (PET) with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in lymph node (LN) staging in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been shown in numerous papers. However, few studies have assessed its limitations. The aim of the present study is to clarify clinico-pathologic factors responsible for false PET results. METHODS: From July 2000 through December 2001, 71 NSCLC patients underwent both FDG PET and surgical intervention at the National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba. Clinical records, computed tomographic (CT) scan findings, PET findings, and histologic findings were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy in nodal staging for CT were 29, 83, and 65% and for PET were 39, 79, and 66%, respectively. There were 10 (14%) false-positive PET scans and 14 (20%) false-negative PET scans. The causative factors for false-positive PET scan were: (1) inflammatory conditions in seven patients; (2) PET mis-localization of an interlobar LN as a mediastinal LN in one patient; (3) inability to distinguish the endobronchial polypoid growth of a primary tumor from a lobar LN in one patient; (4) unknown in one patient. All false-positive LNs due to inflammatory conditions showed reactive lymphoid hyperplasia histologically. The causative factors for false-negative PET scan were: (1) limitation of spatial resolution of the PET scanner in 12 patients (maximum tumor focus dimensions in false-negative LNs ranging from 1 to 7.5 mm, with an average of 3.4 mm); (2) PET mis-localization of a mediastinal LN as a hilar LN in one patient; (3) weak FDG uptake by microscopic tumor foci due to necrosis with massive bleeding in a metastatic LN in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: Inflammatory conditions were most responsible for false-positive PET scans, and spatial resolution limitation of FDG PET was the causative factor of false-negative PET scans. Recognizing these factors in advance would be clinically helpful in accurate nodal staging with FDG PET.     

2-Fluorine-18-fluoro-2-deoxy-D glucose positron emission tomography in the pretreatment staging of Hodgkin's disease: Influence on patient management in a single institution

Purpose:Optimum therapy for patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD)is determined by a number of prognostic factors, one of which is an accuratedefinition of extent of disease (stage). Computerised tomography is widelyused in staging but cannot reliably evaluate normal sized lymph nodes and someextranodal sites, e.g., liver, spleen and bone marrow.2-Fluorine-18-fluoro-2-deoxy-D glucose (FDG) has been shown to concentratepreferentially in lymphoma sites (whether in nodal or extranodal tissue) andtherefore may have a useful role in staging patients with HD. This studycompares concurrent computerized tomography (CT) and FDG positron emissiontomography (PET) in the staging of Hodgkin's disease and assesses thefrequency of stage migration and possible changes in therapy related to theuse of PET scanning. Patients and methods:This was a single centre retrospective studyof 44 patients with Hodgkin's disease who underwent both staging CT and PETprior to treatment between September 1993 and August 1998 at St. Thomas'Hospital. The number and sites of disease were assessed for each patient,documenting any stage and therapy modification prompted by PET findings. Results:One hundred fifty-nine sites of disease were demonstratedin forty-four patients by FDG–PET compared with eighty-four by CT. Asa result, 18 (40.9%) patients were upstaged, nine of these byFDG-uptake in splenic or extranodal sites not visualised on CT. Only threepatients were downstaged by PET results. Eleven patients (25%) hadtreatment modified by PET scan findings. Conclusions:Significantly more sites of disease were identifiedby PET than CT resulting in stage changes and a modification of therapy in25% of patients. This has important implications not only for currentpatient management but also for the design of future clinical trials.     

Towards a minimally invasive staging strategy in NSCLC: analysis of PET positive mediastinal lesions by EUS-FNA

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To asses the value of endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in the nodal staging of patients with (suspected) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and a (18)FDG positron emission tomography (PET) scan suspect for N2/N3 mediastinal lymph node (MLN) metastases. BACKGROUND: Due to the imperfect specificity of positron emission tomography, PET positive MLN should be biopsied in order to confirm or rule out metastasis. Currently, invasive surgical diagnostic techniques such as mediastinoscopy/-tomy are standard procedures to obtain MLN tissue. The minimally invasive technique of EUS-FNA has a high diagnostic accuracy (90-94%) for the analysis of MLN in patients with enlarged MLN on computed tomography of the chest (CT). DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Thirty-six patients with proven n=26 or suspected n=10 non-small cell lung cancer and a PET scan suspect for N2/N3 lymph node metastases underwent EUS-FNA. When EUS-FNA did not confirm metastasis and the PET lesion was within reach of mediastinoscopy, a mediastinoscopy was performed. EUS-FNA negative patients with PET lesions beyond the reach of mediastinoscopy or those with a negative mediastinoscopy were referred for surgical resection of the tumour and MLN sampling or dissection. RESULTS: EUS-FNA confirmed N2/N3 disease in 25 of the 36 patients (69%) and was highly suspicious in one. In the remaining 10 patients, one PET positive and one PET negative N2 metastasis was detected at thoracotomy. The PPV, NPV, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of EUS-FNA in analysing PET positive MLN were 100%, 80%, 93%, 100% and 94%, respectively. No complications of EUS-FNA were recorded. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: EUS-FNA yields minimally invasive confirmation of MLN metastases in 69% of the patients with potential mediastinal involvement at FDG PET. The combination of PET and EUS-FNA might qualify as a minimally invasive staging strategy for NSCLC.     

Can Positron Emission Tomography Be Used as a Staging Tool for Small-Cell Lung Cancer?

PURPOSE: Positron emission tomography (PET) is widely used for the staging evaluation of non-small-cell lung cancer; however, its use in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) remains investigational. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We did a retrospective study of 137 patients to evaluate the role of PET in SCLC. Fifty-one of 137 patients had computed tomography (CT) and PET scans during initial evaluation of a lung mass. RESULTS: All 51 patients had PET-positive results for malignancy (100% sensitivity). In 40 of 51 cases (78%), the PET staging correlated with that on CT. Two of 51 patients (4%) had disease that was accurately upstaged by PET. Positron emission tomography accurately downstaged disease in 6 of 51 patients (12%). Positron emission tomography detected additional sites of disease in 13 of 42 patients (32%). Of the 13 additional sites of disease, PET detected supraclavicular nodes in 4 of 13 patients (30%) and bone lesions in 4 of 13 patients (30%). The sensitivity to detect brain lesions was 5 of 11 patients (45%) in this series. In this series, the PET results from 8 of 51 patients (16%) resulted in a change in disease management. Because of PET results, 6 of 51 patients (12%) who otherwise would not have been treated, were treated with radiation. CONCLUSION: Positron emission tomography is potentially useful for accurate initial staging of SCLC and can ensure that a patient's disease is not overstaged by CT scan, which might result in denied potentially curative treatment for limited-stage SCLC. It can identify the occult adrenal metastasis and metastasis to supraclavicular lymph nodes that are missed by CT; however, brain lesions are difficult to assess by PET.     

Indeterminate pulmonary nodules on CT images in breast cancer patient: The additional value of 18F-FDG PET/CT

Aim: To assess the potential role of 18F‐Fluorodeoxiglucose (FDG) Positron Emission Tomography (PET)/Computed Tomography (CT) in characterizing indeterminate lung nodules detected at CT scan in patients previously treated for a breast cancer (BC). Materials and Methods: Twenty‐nine consecutive BC patients (28 females, mean age 65 ± 12 years) with evidence of indeterminate lung nodules at contrast‐enhanced CT (CECT) scan (lesions with axial diameter ≥8 mm) were retrospectively analysed: all patients underwent 18F‐FDG PET/CT within a mean 2 ± 1 months from CECT imaging. PET/CT was considered positive in the presence of abnormal FDG uptake in the pulmonary nodules and/or in other organs. The nature of lung nodules was defined at histopathology and/or imaging follow‐up. Results: Fourteen (48%) patients showed negative and 15 (52%) positive PET/CT scan in the lungs: of these 15 patients, 7 (47%) had pathologic FDG‐uptake in lungs only, whereas 8 (53%) showed abnormal FDG‐uptake also in sites different from lungs. At histology and/or imaging follow‐up, five (17%) patients were considered positive for BC lung metastases while in seven (24%) a second cancer was diagnosed. In this subset of patients, the sensitivity and specificity for FDG PET/CT in revealing lung lesions were 17% and 100%, respectively, for nodules <8 mm in diameter, and 77% and 85%, respectively, for nodules with diameter ≥8 mm. The therapeutic planning was changed to surgery in seven patients, chemotherapy in one patient and continued hormonal therapy in five. The inclusion of PET/CT in the diagnostic algorithm of the evaluated patients helped avoid unnecessary over‐treatment in 12 of 29 patients. Conclusion: FDG PET/CT appears useful in characterizing indeterminate lung nodules found at CECT scan in BC patients, with a sensitivity that is proportional to nodule size. In addition, PET/CT helped in avoiding over‐treatment in a significant proportion of patients.     

Value of18F-FDG PET in clinical staging of non-small cell lung cancer

Objective

To evaluate the feasibility of¹⁸F-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET) in the staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

105 patients with NSCLC had been examined by¹⁸F-FDG PET before radiotherapy. The results of the¹⁸F-FDG PET examination were compared with those of CT.

Results

The staging was changed in 38 patients because of¹⁸F-FDG PET findings, with PET resulting in upstaging in 31 patients and downstaging in seven patients. Because of distant metastasis detected by PET, 21 patients received palliative treatment. Six of the seven downstaged patients underwent radical surgery, among which the PET findings were concordant with the pathological findings in five patients. Distant metastasis detected by PET elevated the pre-PET stage: at stage I 10.0% (2/20), stage II 14.3% (3/ 21) and stage III 25.0% (16/64), respectively.

Conclusion

¹⁸F-FDG PET, by changing clinical staging in 36.2% (38/105) of NSCLC patients, has an impact on treatment strategy in NSCLC patients.     

Follow-up with 18FDG-PET–CT after radical radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy allows the detection of potentially curable progressive disease in non-small cell lung cancer patients: A prospective study

BackgroundFollow-up of patients treated with curative intent for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with X-ray or CT-scans is of unproven value. Furthermore, most patients with progressive disease present with symptoms outside of follow-up visits. Because the accuracy of ¹⁸FDG-PET–CT is superior to CT, we hypothesised that FDG-PET–CT scans 3 months post-treatment could lead to early detection of progressive disease (PD) amenable for radical treatment.Patients and methodsHundred patients with NSCLC, treated with curative intent with (chemo) radiation, were prospectively evaluated. All patients underwent a planned FDG-PET–CT scan 3 months after the start of radiotherapy.ResultsTwenty four patients had PD 3 months post-treatment. 16/24 patients were symptomatic. No curative treatment could be offered to any of these patients. In 3/8 asymptomatic patients progression, potentially amenable for radical therapy was found, which were all detected with PET, not with CT only.ConclusionsPET-scanning after curative treatment for NSCLC led to the detection of progression potentially amenable for radical treatment in a small proportion (3%) of patients. Selectively offering a PET–CT scan to the patient group without symptoms could possibly lead to an effective follow-up method.