Atsushi Nambu MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Satoshi Kato, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Akitoshi Saito, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yoko Sato MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Keiichi Ishigame MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Tsutomu Araki MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the relationship between SUVmax of primary lung cancers on FDG-PET and lymph node metastasis.

The subjects were a total of consecutive 66 patients with lung cancer who were examined by FDG-PET and subsequently underwent a surgery between October 2004 and January 2008. There were 41 males and 25 females, ranging in age from 45 to 83 years old with an average of 68 years.The pathological subtypes of the lung cancers were composed of 50 adenocarcinomas, 11 squamous cell carcinomas, 1 large cell carcinoma, 1 small cell carcinoma, 1 pleomorphic carcinoma and 1 mucoepidermoid carcinoma. We statistically compared (1) the frequency of lymph node metastasis between higher and lower SUV groups that were classified by using the median SUV, and (2) evaluated the relationships between the SUVs and frequencies of lymph node metastasis, and (3) correlations between the SUVs and frequencies of lymph node metastasis, number of the metastatic lymph nodes and pathological n stages.

(1) Lymph node metastasis was more frequently seen in higher SUV group (17/33, 52%) than in lower SUV group (7/33, 21%) with a statistically significant difference. (2) There was no lymph node metastasis in lung cancers with a SUV less than 2.5 and lung cancers with a SUV more than 12 had a 70% frequency of lymph node metastasis. (3) A strong correlation was noted between the SUV groups divided by 5 increments and frequencies of lymph node metastasis (γ=0.971, p=0.001). There were moderate correlations between SUV, and the number of lymph node metastasis(γ=0.404, p=0.001) and pathological n stage(γ=0.411, p=0.001).  

As the SUV of a primary lung cancer gets higher, the likelihood of lymph node metastasis increases.

We might improve accuracy of preoperative N-staging of lung cancer by considering the SUV of the primary lung cancer.

Nambu, A, Kato, S, Saito, A, Sato, Y, Ishigame, K, Araki, T, Relationship between Standardized Uptake Value (SUV) Max of Primary Lung Cancers on FDG-PET and Lymph Node Metastasis.  Radiological Society of North America 2008 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, February 18 - February 20, 2008 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2008/6007999.html