title: Solitary pulmonary nodule and (18)F-FDG PET/CT. Part 1: epidemiology, morphological evaluation and cancer probability.
abstract: Solitary pulmonary nodule corresponds to a common radiographic finding, which is frequently detected incidentally. The investigation of this entity remains complex, since characteristics of benign and malignant processes overlap in the differential diagnosis. Currently, many strategies are available to evaluate solitary pulmonary nodules with the main objective of characterizing benign lesions as best as possible, while avoiding to expose patients to the risks inherent to invasive methods, besides correctly detecting cases of lung cancer so as the potential curative treatment is not delayed. This first part of the study focuses on the epidemiology, the morfological evaluation and the methods to determine the likelihood of cancer in cases of indeterminate solitary pulmonary nodule.
authors.affiliation: Master, Nuclear Physician at Liga Norte Riograndense Contra o Câncer, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos Pretto
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Mosmann
authors.affiliation: MDs, Radiologists at Liga Norte Riograndense Contra o Câncer, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelle Alves
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Borba
authors.affiliation: MDs, Radiologists at Liga Norte Riograndense Contra o Câncer, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francisco Pires Negromonte
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: de Macedo
authors.affiliation: MDs, Radiologists at Liga Norte Riograndense Contra o Câncer, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriano de Araujo Lima
authors.initials: Ade A
authors.lastname: Liguori
authors.affiliation: PhD, Nuclear Physician at Liga Norte Riograndense Contra o Câncer, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villarim Neto
authors.affiliation: Post Doc Fellow, Professor, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva -Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kenio Costa
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: de Lima
keywords: Computed tomography; Positron-emission tomography; Solitary pulmonary nodule