Imaging in Therapy Response Assessment and Surveillance of Lung Cancer: Evidenced-based Review With Focus on the Utility of 18F-FDG PET/CT

Clin Lung Cancer. 2020 Nov;21(6):485-497. doi: 10.1016/j.cllc.2020.06.020. Epub 2020 Jul 3.

Abstract

This review covers the state-of-the-art imaging in therapy assessment and surveillance of lung cancer with focus on the utility of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT). We review different qualitative and quantitative response assessment criteria in lung cancer, common pitfalls and atypical patterns of response to immunotherapy, and imaging features of common immune-related adverse events. In addition, the currently recommended imaging workup in surveillance of asymptomatic patients with non-small-cell and small-cell lung cancer and future developments will be discussed.

Keywords: (18)F-FDG PET/CT; Non–small-cell lung cancer; Small-cell lung cancer; Surveillance; Therapy assessment.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Multimodal Imaging / methods*
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography / methods*
  • Prognosis
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / metabolism*

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18