FDG PET/CT in the Staging of Lung Cancer

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.

Keywords: FDG; Lung cancer; PET/CT; diagnostic workup; imaging; staging; therapy.