e19038 Background: Up to one-third of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients are diagnosed with brain metastasis. Our study aims to evaluate the role of whole body and brain FDG-PET/CT in detecting asymptomatic brain metastasis in this population. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 282 consecutive non-small cell lung cancer patients between February of 2005 and June of 2008. 60 patients with brain metastasis were identified. Information regarding tumor histology and presence of neurological symptoms at the time of discovery of brain metastasis was collected. In addition, data was acquired from brain MRI and PET/CT (with IV contrast) reports including: study date, findings and any change in staging secondary to the study. Results: The median age was 63 years (47 % women). 39 (65%) of the patients had neurological symptoms at the time of discovery of brain metastasis. PET/CT scan with IV contrast was performed in 53 patients with brain metastasis. For patients who had a PET/CT scan, the histological types were: adenocarcinoma (58.4%), unclassified (22.6%), squamous (13.2%), large cell (3.8%) and other (1.8%). PET/CT scan had a sensitivity of 97.8% in detecting CNS metastasis seen on brain MRI. 19/53 patients were found to have asymptomatic brain metastasis on PET/CT scan (2 stage I, 1 stage II, 2 stage III and 13 stage IV). Overall, PET/CT scan resulted in upstaging of 5 asymptomatic and 6 symptomatic patients or 11/53 (20.7%). Conclusions: PET/CT scan with IV contrast has a high sensitivity in detecting brain metastasis in patients with NSCLC when compared to brain MRI. It is effective in detecting asymptomatic brain metastasis in this population. Those patients, who initially were thought to have non-metastatic disease, are spared inappropriate aggressive surgery or radiation. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
EGFR-Mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma Mimicking a Pneumonia