[Combined use of thin-section CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT for characterization of solitary pulmonary nodules].

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate whether fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) combined with thin-section CT improves the diagnostic performance for solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs).

METHODS:

A total of 267 patients underwent examinations with 18F-FDG PET/CT and thin-section CT for evaluating the SPNs with undetermined nature, which was further confirmed by pathological examination or clinical follow-up. The performance of two diagnostic criteria based on findings in PET/CT alone (Criterion 1) and in PET/CT combined with thin-section CT (Criterion 2) were compared.

RESULTS:

Thin-section CT provided greater diagnostic information for SPNs in 84.2% of the patients. Compared with Criterion 1, the diagnosis based on Criterion 2 significantly increased the diagnostic sensitivity (80.4% vs 91%, P<0.01) and accuracy (76.4% vs 87.2%, P<0.01) for lung cancer. The lesion size and the CT features including lobulation, air bronchogram, and feeding vessel, but not SUVmax, were all helpful for characterizing non-solid SPNs. Thin-section CT rectified diagnostic errors in 50% (20/40) of the cancerous lesions, which had been diagnosed as benign by PET due to their low metabolism. For non-solid SPNs, Criterion 2 showed a significantly higher diagnostic sensitivity than Criterion 1 (90.0% vs 40.0%, P=0.000) but their diagnostic specificity were comparable (75.2% vs 58.3%, P=0.667). For solid nodules, the use of thin-section CT resulted in no significant improvement in the diagnostic performance (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION:

The combination of PET/CT and thin-section CT creates a synergistic effect for the characterization of SPNs, especially non-solid nodules.

• Authors: Yun-Yan Ren, You-Cai Li, Hu-Bing Wu, Quan-Shi Wang, Yan-Jiang Han, Wen-Lan Zhou, Hong-Sheng Li, Zhen Wang, Mohammed Shah Alam Mohammed Shah Alam
• Journal: Nan fang yi ke da xue xue bao = Journal of Southern Medical University (Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao) Vol. 37 Issue 3 Pg. 283-289 (03 20 2017) ISSN: 1673-4254 [Print] China
• PMID: 28377340 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18

Topics

• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
• Humans
• Lung Neoplasms
• Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Solitary Pulmonary Nodule (diagnostic imaging)