[Preliminary study of 18F-FDG PET-CT in defining lymph node radiation target volume for non-small-cell lung cancer patients].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the value of 18F-FDG PET-CT in detecting metastatic lymph node and radiation planning for patient with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


METHODS
The data of 58 NSCLC patients were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperatively, Both 18F-FDG PET-CT and CT scan were performed for all patients. Blinded interpretation of these images was then carried out. The gross tumor volume defined by radiation oncologist based on imaging results of either PET-CT or CT alone was compared with pathological results eventually.


RESULTS
The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of detecting metastatic lymph node in the mediastinum was 56.0%, 54.2%, 54.8%, 38.9%, 70.3% by CT alone, and 88.0%, 85.4%, 86.3%, 75.9%, 93.2% by PET-CT, respectively. There was a statisticalty significant difference between two methods(P < 0.05). However, statisticalty no significant difference in detecting hilar lymph nodes was observed. The radiation target volume defined by CT was identical to that by PET-CT in 31(53.5%) cases, but changed in the other 27 (46.5%) cases when 18F-FDG PET data was added. The accuracy was 75.9% in detecting metastatic lymph nodes in the radiation target volume defined by PET-CT, while it was much lower by CT alone (48.3%) with a statistically significant difference between two methods (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
18F-FDG PET-CT is more accurate than CT alone in assessment of mediastinal lymph nodes for NSCLC patients. It may be recommended as a method in defining the radiation target volume.
Liu
Lan-Ping
LP
Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital, Jinan 250117, China.
Yu
Jin-Ming
JM
Guo
Hong-Bo
HB
Fu
Zheng
Z
Han
An-Qin
AQ
Yang
Guo-Ren
GR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000528:radiation effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18