FDG-PET for Lung Cancer

Abstract

Positron emission tomography (PET) using ^<18>F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) enables cancer imaging based on the elevated glucose metabolism of malignant cells. The usefulness of FDG-PET has been demonstrated in the differential diagnosis of lung nodules, accurate staging through the detection of whole body metastasis, and sensitive detection of recurrence after therapy. Recently, the advantages of PET in the management of lung cancer patients has moved from differential diagnosis to staging, and to detection of recurrence, because of the advancement of multi-detector CT and PET-CT technology. Accurate diagnosis using FDG-PET is helpful for the selection of the most appropriate therapy.