title: [Value of Pet-18FDG in lung cancer].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  18FDG-PET was studied in the diagnosis of malignancy of the solitary pulmonary nodule and in the early staging of non-small-cell lung cancer. PET results were compared with thoracic-abdominal computed tomography (CT) and brain magnetic resonance (MR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five patients with a radiologically detected solitary pulmonary nodule (54 CT, 1 plain radiography), were studied following an intravenous injection of 370 MBq 18FDG. Attenuation corrected emission data were acquired and analyzed qualitatively and semi-quantitatively. 30 non-small-cell lung cancer underwent MR. Biopsies were obtained in 48 non-small-cell lung cancer and 7 were controlled by follow-up (18 months). The staging of 43 non-small-cell lung cancer was confirmed by surgery (n = 13), mediastinoscopy (n = 9) and follow-up (n = 21).
  
  
  RESULTS
  PET correctly diagnosed 52 solitary pulmonary nodules with 3 false positives (100% sensitivity and 75% specificity). In the mediastinal staging (N), CT and PET demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 46% vs. 100%, and 59.3% vs. 93.3%, respectively. In 6 patients, some visceral metastases detected by PET were not detected by CT (including 3 adrenals), whereas 2 brain metastases in MR were not diagnosed by PET. PET was considered decisive in the treatment and follow-up of 17 patients (32.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whole body PET imaging is a cost-effective diagnostic technique that simplifies the malignant characterization of solitary pulmonary nodule and improves the early staging of non-small-cell lung cancer. In combination with CT, PET makes an outstanding contribution to the correct assessment of therapeutical decisions in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Nuclear, Universidad de Navarra. jarichter@unav.es
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Torre
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gámez
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Aramendia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crespo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nicolás
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brugarolas
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18