PET/CT helps speed lung cancer diagnosis

Oct 1, 2009

FDG-PET/CT can expedite the diagnosis of lung cancer in an outpatient setting, according to research from the Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam.

The study combined FDG-PET/CT with a fast-track model to evaluate over the course of one day 114 patients experiencing pulmonary symptoms and/or abnormal chest x-rays. Results were published in the October issue of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology (2009, Vol. 4:10, pp. 1226-1230), with Dr. Tjeerd Aukema as the lead author.

The researchers were able to make a final diagnosis for 92% of patients and determine a malignancy in 84% using PET/CT. The results represent a diagnostic gain of 8% and 7%, respectively, compared to previous techniques. The study also demonstrated a sensitivity rate of 97% and an accuracy rate of 82%.

CT, PET staging may negate need for mediastinoscopy in lung cancer, April 11, 2005

FDG-PET/CT tops other technologies for lymphoma staging, March 23, 2005

Evidence-based practice shows PET superior to CT, MR for staging colorectal liver metastases, March 18, 2005

PET/CT planning allows for greater gamble on NSCLC radiotherapy, March 16, 2005

$ChatGPT powered by GPT-4 and using DALL-E−3 was asked to generate an image for teaching purposes that demonstrated: a nuclear medicine bone scan with skeletal metastases (top left); coronary artery disease (top right); an F-18 FDG-PET scan of the brain with Alzheimer's disease (bottom left); and an x-ray showing a fracture (bottom right). These are misleading for educational purposes and for patients who may be searching for information. Image and caption courtesy of Radiography.$