Sandra Pauls MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Andreas K. Buck MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Martin Hetzel MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Norbert Manfred Blumstein, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hans-Juergen Brambs, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Sven N Reske MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Evaluation of accuracy of MDR-CT, FDG-PET and FDG-PET/CT for determination of malignancy of lung nodules and staging of lung cancer.

128 patients with suspected malignant lung nodule or histologically proven lung cancer were included in this prospective study. All patients underwent PET/CT (GE Discovery LS). 60 min after injection of ca. 370 MBq F-18-FDG, iv contrast enhanced MDR-CT was acquired. Afterwards, PET-acquisition was done. FDG-PET and image fusion (FDG-PET/CT) were evaluated by 2 radiologists and 2 nuclear medicine physicians when tied consensus was reached.

100 patients had a malignant tumor and 28 patients had a benign lesion, proven by interventional biopsy. Sensitivity / specificity and accuracy for detection of primary malignant tumor was 99 / 75 %, and 94% for FDG-PET/CT. For FDG-PET alone, sensitivity / specificity and accuracy was 98 / 46 %, and 87% (p < 0.05). In patient-based analysis, sensitivity / specificity and accuracy for lymph node metastases (N1) was 38% / 96%, and 88% for FDG-PET/CT; for N2-stage, the values were 67 / 89%, and 86%, respectively. With FDG-PET, sensitivity was 38% for N1-stage (specificity / accuracy 94% and 86%) and 50% for N2-stage (specificity / accuracy 96% and 88%). With FDG-PET/CT, metastases were detected in 48 patients (FDG-PET alone: 44 patients). For differentiation operable and inoperable patients (N3, M1), accuracy was 96% for FDG-PET/CT and 91% for FDG-PET.

FDG-PET/CT is an accurate tool for staging lung cancer.

Pauls, S, Buck, A, Hetzel, M, Blumstein, N, Brambs, H, Reske, S, FDG-PET/CT: Luxury or a Useful Tool for Staging Lung Cancer?.  Radiological Society of North America 2005 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 27 - December 2, 2005 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2005/4406963.html