title: Positron emission tomography imaging of the thorax.
abstract: Positron emission tomography (PET) is just beginning to emerge as a clinically useful tool in the thorax. Imaging with FDG is used primarily to differentiate benign from malignant abnormalities, including solitary pulmonary nodules, staging bronchogenic carcinoma, and differentiating recurrent tumor from fibrosis following treatment. This article discusses the fundamental properties of PET images, techniques, and current clinical indications in the thorax.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Patz
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Goodman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002283:Carcinoma, Bronchogenic / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000175:diagnosis; D013896:Thoracic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed