Background:
Metabolic information provided by 18F-FDG PET/CT are useful for initial
staging, therapy planning, response evaluation, and to a lesser extent for the follow-up of non-small
cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To date, there are no established clinical guidelines in treatment response
and early detection of recurrence.
Objective:
To provide an overview of 18F-FDG PET/CT in NSCLC and in particular, to discuss its
utility in treatment response evaluation and restaging of lung cancer.
Methods:
A comprehensive search was used based on PubMed results. From all studies published in
English those that explored the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the treatment response scenario were
selected.
Results:
Several studies have demonstrated that modifications in metabolic activity, expressed by
changes in SUV both in the primary tumor as well as in regional lymph nodes, are associated with
tumor response and survival. Beside SUV, other metabolic parameters (i.e. MTV, TLG, and percentage
changes) are emerging to be helpful for predicting clinical outcomes.
Conclusion:
18F-FDG parameters appear to be promising factors for evaluating treatment response
and for detecting recurrences, although larger prospective trials are needed to confirm these evidences
and to determine optimal cut-off values.
FDG PET/CT in Treatment Response Evaluation of Head and Neck Tumors