Multi-Energy Imaging in Nuclear Oncology.
The development of dual detector coincidence imaging is extending the use of fluorine-18-deoxyglucose (FDG) in patients with proven or suspected cancer. Preliminary results from a multi-institutional trial in patients with lung nodules showed a 96% sensitivity in the detection of malignant nodules and a specificity of 82%. These studies could help eliminate the 25,000 thoracotomies performed every year in the United States in patients subsequently proven to have benign solitary pulmonary nodules, and in staging the extent of malignancies of the lung.