Utility of PET-FDG imaging in treatment planning and monitoring of lung tumors

Accurate tumor restaging may improve treatment planning for lung tumors. The aim of this paper is to assess the comparative efficacy of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET imaging in detection of residual/recurrent tumor foci in the treated patients with lung tumor. The authors prospectively studied 18 patients treated for biopsy-proven lung carcinoma with radio-therapy alone; radiation and chemotherapy; surgery alone; and chemotherapy EDG-PET studies were compared with CT scans, plain films histologic finding, and clinical follow-up. Two patients underwent three follow-up studies each. Tumor differential uptake ratios (DURs) were derived from region of interest analysis. PET studies showed residual/recurrent tumor in eight regions not detected on CT scans or radiographs. Similarly, false-position equivocal tumor sites seen on CT scans or radiographs in four patients showed no FDG uptake. Mediastinal or hilar tumor involvement was noted in two patients only with PET