Abstract
Positron emission tomography(PET) with FDG is routinely performed for investigating suspected lung cancers although there is potential for false-positive FDG uptake.The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of incidental FDG findings at extrapulmonary locations on duration of diagnosis and time to treatment in patients staged for lung cancer.
The lung cancer patients diagnosed in our clinic were divided into two groups according to time period like before PET CT usage and after PET CT usage.Soscial demographic findings,pathological diagnosis,treatment modalities and treatment results were recorded retrospectively from patients files.Also number of radiological and surgical procedures and time to treatment from diagnosis were recorded.
1312 patients were included study.427 patients(32,5%) were in a period before PET CT usage and 885 patients(67,5%) were in a period after PET CT usage.Mean age was smaller PET CT group(p<0,05).Percentage of female and adenocarcinom patients were increased in PET CT group(p<0,05).Radiotherapy was also found increased in PET CT group(p<0,05).The extrapulmonary locations that showed pathological FDG uptake were head and neck,gastrointestinal system,and musculoskeletal system.True positive ratio in musculoskeletal system,head and neck,and gastrointestinal system were 58,3%, 17,4%, and 5,1% respectively.In PET CT group number of diagnostic procedures were incresed 2,4 fold and also time to treatment were increased 3,1 fold(p<0,05).
Although PET CT was important tool in diagnosis and staging of lung cancer it can cause increase in time to treatment and diagnostic procedures.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015
