PET/CT imaging in response evaluation of patients with small cell lung cancer.
There is an increasing amount of evidence on the usability of PET in response evaluation of non-small cell lung cancer. However, data on SCLC is scarce and mainly retrospective. This prospective study assesses the use of PET (positron emission tomography) and PET/CT in response evaluation of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC).


METHODS
Assignment of early and final response was compared between PET, PET/CT, and CT in 20 patients with SCLC. Final response as assigned by CT (RECIST) served as reference.


RESULTS
At response evaluation after one cycle of chemotherapy major disagreement (responder versus non-responder) between PET and CT in predicting final response was seen in 1 of 12 patients. At final response evaluation major disagreement between PET, PET/CT and CT was seen in 2 of 19 patients (11%). All measurements of FDG-uptake were significantly correlated to size and changes in size as measured by CT. A significant difference in relative change in tumour FDG-uptake and volume was found between responding and non-responding patients. No significant difference was found between a visual and semi-quantitative analysis of PET.


CONCLUSIONS
Response evaluation of SCLC by PET/CT is feasible, but it is uncertain whether it adds further information to evaluation by RECIST, thus further studies and standardization of methods are needed.
Fischer
Barbara M
BM
Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET, Centre of Diagnostic Imaging, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. malene.fischer@rh.dk
Mortensen
Jann
J
Langer
Seppo W
SW
Loft
Annika
A
Berthelsen
Anne K
AK
Daugaard
Gedske
G
Lassen
Ulrik
U
Hansen
Heine H
HH
D000368:Aged; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18