Usefulness of combined FDG-PET with CT or tumour markers in lung cancer diagnosis.
BACKGROUND
The synergy between in vitro and in vivo imaging was investigated in this study.


METHODS
Comparison of fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography (FDG-PET) and computerised tomography (CT) included 62 patients (group 1), while that for comparison of FDG-PET and serum tumour markers included 26 patients (group 2).


RESULTS
In group 1, FDG-PET had positive and negative predictive values of 81% and 80% respectively, compared to 73.7% and 71.4% for CT, respectively. Combined imaging showed 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity. In group 2, FDG-PET and CEA were both positive in 42.9%, and only CEA was falsely negative in all other cases. FDG-PET and TPA were both positive in 47.6%, and in 52.4% only FDG-PET was positive. NSE and SCC had 100% specificity; their sensitivity was 38% and 25%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
FDG-PET diagnosis was improved by CT. Because the serum tumour markers were falsely negative in more than 50% and there were no falsely negative results for FDG-PET, combined imaging may allow reduction of cut-off values for conventional serum tumour markers.
Kley
Konstantin
K
University of Bonn, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Bonn, Germany.
Oehr
Peter
P
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000378:metabolism; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18