A prospective study of PET/CT in initial staging of small-cell lung cancer: comparison with CT, bone scintigraphy and bone marrow analysis

B M Fischer, J Mortensen, S W Langer, A Loft, A K Berthelsen, B I Petersen, G Daugaard, U Lassen, H H Hansen

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for 15%-20% of all lung cancer cases. Accurate and fast staging is mandatory when choosing treatment, but current staging procedures are time consuming and lack sensitivity.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study was designed to examine the role of combined positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) compared with standard staging (CT, bone scintigraphy and immunocytochemical assessment of bone marrow biopsy) of patients with SCLC. Thirty-four consecutive patients were included. Twenty-nine patients received initial PET/CT.

RESULTS: PET/CT caused change of stage in 5/29 (17%). Excluding patients with unconfirmed findings or pleural effusion, the sensitivity for accurate staging of patients with extensive disease was the following: for standard staging 79%, PET 93% and PET/CT 93%. Specificity was 100%, 83% and 100%, respectively.

CONCLUSION: The results from this first study on PET/CT in SCLC indicates that PET/CT can simplify and perhaps even improve the accuracy of the current staging procedure in SCLC. A larger clinical trial, preferably with consequent histological confirmation in case of discordance, however, is warranted.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAnnals of Oncology
Volume18
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)338-45
Number of pages8
ISSN0923-7534
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2007
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Aged
  • Bone Marrow/pathology
  • Bone Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Small Cell/diagnostic imaging
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Prospective Studies
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

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