title: Integrated imaging of non-small cell lung cancer recurrence: CT and PET-CT findings, possible pitfalls and risk of recurrence criteria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the role of imaging in the diagnosis of recurrent disease in previously treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and discuss the imaging pitfalls.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive review of published literature on CT and PET imaging of NSCLC recurrence was performed. Diagnostic and prognostic values are discussed. Representative imaging examples are illustrated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Up to 30% of NSCLC recurrences present as loco-regional, involving treated hemithorax and ipsilateral lymph nodes, while 70% present as metachronous distant metastases. CT and PET-CT play an important role in the early detection of recurrence; indications for imaging vary depending on pathological features.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Imaging plays a central role in the identification of recurrence and may predict prognosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lung cancer recurs after surgery in 30% to 75% of patients.                                                                                                                                                                       CT and PET-CT are crucial in identification of loco-regional recurrence.                                                                                                                                                                       Knowledge of potential pitfalls is essential, especially for parenchymal or nodal recurrence.                                                                                                                                                                       CT can diagnose metastases but further examinations (PET-CT, MRI) are often needed.                                                                                                                                                                       Morphological and functional imaging criteria may help in predicting recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioimaging and Radiological Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy. acaulo@sirm.org
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caulo
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mirsadraee
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leccisotti
authors.forename: Edwin J R
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: van Beek
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bonomo
mesh_terms: D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D012306:Risk; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed