[The contribution of positron emission tomography in pleural disease].
BACKGROUND
Positron emission tomography (PET) has a clear role in oncology, particularly in thoracic disease. In the light of our experience and a revue of the literature we define precisely the role of metabolic imaging in the diagnosis of pleural pathology.


BACKGROUND
In particular PET allows characterisation of malignant pleural disease and provides prognostic information in mesothelioma. Metabolic imaging provides clinical information for the staging of pulmonary cancer, in the search for a primary tumour in metastatic pleurisy and also in the follow up of chronic or recurrent pleural pathology.


CONCLUSIONS
It is justified, therefore, that PET joins the diagnostic armamentarium of pleural pathology, solid or liquid.
Duysinx
B
B
Service de Pneumologie, CHU Sart-Tilman, Liège, Belgium. bduysinx@swing.be
Corhay
J-L
JL
Larock
M-P
MP
Withofs
N
N
Bury
T
T
Hustinx
R
R
Louis
R
R
D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011379:Prognosis