The Value of FDG PET/CT in Treatment Response Assessment, Follow-Up, and Surveillance of Lung Cancer

AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2017 Feb;208(2):420-433. doi: 10.2214/AJR.16.16532. Epub 2016 Oct 11.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this article is to summarize the evidence regarding the role of FDG PET/CT in treatment response assessment and surveillance of lung cancer and to provide suggested best practices.

Conclusion: FDG PET/CT is a valuable imaging tool for assessing treatment response for patients with lung cancer, though evidence for its comparative effectiveness with chest CT is still evolving. FDG PET/CT is most useful when there is clinical suspicion or other evidence for disease recurrence or metastases. The sequencing, cost analysis, and comparative effectiveness of FDG PET/CT and conventional imaging modalities in the follow-up setting need to be investigated.

Keywords: FDG PET/CT; follow-up; lung cancer; recurrence detection; therapy assessment.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lung Neoplasms / mortality
  • Lung Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / diagnostic imaging*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / mortality*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / prevention & control
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care / methods
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography / statistics & numerical data*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Survival Rate
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18