Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2000; 48(2): 97-101
DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-9875
Original Thoracic
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

FDG Positron Emission Tomography in the Diagnosis of Peripheral Pulmonary Focal Lesions

G. Halter1 , M. Storck1 , A. Guhlmann2 , J. Frank1 , S. Große1 , F. Liewald1
  • 1Department of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University of Ulm, Germany
  • 2Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

March 3, 2000

Publication Date:
31 December 2000 (online)

Preview

Positron emission tomography (PET) using fluoride-18-marked fluoride deoxyglucose (FDG) represents a metabolically based imaging technique capable of providing information on the potential malignancy of peripheral pulmonary focal lesions. In the present prospective study, we investigated the effectiveness of FDG-PET in determining the dignities of 67 such lesions in 35 patients. Findings of FDG-PET were compared with those of computed tomography (CT), as well as with surgical and histological reports, and the value of FDG-PET as a diagnostic method evaluated. FDG-PET correctly identified 38 lesions as positive for malignancy, 18 correctly as negative, 7 incorrectly as negative, and 4 incorrectly as positive. Based on lesions, this yields a sensitivity of 84.4 % and a specificity of 81.8 %. All malignant focal lesions with a diameter of over 1.2 cm were correctly identified (sensitivity: 100 %). In cases of intense FDG uptake, differentiation between a primary lesion, a metastasis, and an acute inflammation is often not possible.

References

Dr. Gisela Halter

Abteilung für Thorax- und Gefäßchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Ulm

Steinhövelstraße 9

89075 Ulm

Phone: 0731/502-01

Email: gisela.halter@medizin.uni-ulm.de