Is It Possible to Establish a Reliable Correlation between Maximum Standardized Uptake Value of 18-Fluorine Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography and Histological Types of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer? Analysis of the Italian VATS Group Database

Abstract

Background. Although positron emission tomography/computed tomography, often integrated with 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18] fluorine-D-glucose (18F-FDG-PET/CT), is fundamental in the assessment of lung cancer, the relationship between metabolic avidity of different histotypes and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) has not yet been thoroughly investigated. The aim of the study is to establish a reliable correlation between Suvmax and histology in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), in order to facilitate patient management. Methods. We retrospectively assessed the data about lung cancer patients entered in the Italian Registry of VATS Group from January 2014 to October 2019, after establishing the eligibility criteria of the study. In total, 8139 patients undergoing VATS lobectomy were enrolled: 3260 females and 4879 males. The relationship between SUVmax and tumor size was also analyzed. Results. The mean values of SUVmax in the most frequent types of lung cancer were as follows: a) 4.88 ± 3.82 for preinvasive adenocarcinoma; b) 5.49 ± 4.10 for minimally invasive adenocarcinoma; c) 5.87 ± 4.18 for invasive adenocarcinoma; and d) 8.85 ± 6.70 for squamous cell carcinoma. Processing these data, we displayed a statistically difference (p < 0.000001) of FDG avidity between adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Moreover, by classifying patients into five groups based on tumor diameter and after evaluating the SUVmax value for each group, we noted a statistical correlation (p < 0.000001) between size and FDG uptake, also confirmed by the post hoc analysis. Conclusions. There is a correlation between SUVmax, histopathology outcomes and tumor size in NSCLC. Further clinical trials should be performed in order to confirm our data.

Correlation between Radiological Characteristics, PET-CT and Histological Subtypes of Primary Lung Adenocarcinoma—A 102 Case Series Analysis

“…And for PET, given the increase in the number of patients from year to year, as well as the beginning of screening for this disease in some countries for risk groups, it is necessary to work in this area as much as possible to see a better radiological picture and contribute to the correlation between different morphological features on CT with pathological, immune, and genetic characteristics, as well as the characteristics that the tumor shows on other imaging methods, all with the aim of better understanding this disease. An example can be the proof that in the first stage of the disease, as well as in patients with AIS and MIA, the five-year survival is almost 100% [6,14,[19][20][21][22][23]. There were no other major studies that show gender correlation, and based on our experience, there is no predilection for any gender to develop any subtype of adenocarcinoma, so basic gender results in this paper are the consequence of a relatively small sample [24][25][26].…”

Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in the evaluation of solitary pulmonary nodule: a scoping review

“…If the role of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ( 18 F-FDG PET/CT) is indisputable in the follow-up of lung cancer, whether or not subjected to surgical resection, many perplexities arise in the evaluation of a solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN), especially in lesions with minimal solid component. In fact, the doubts concern the reliability of the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) in relation to the histological type and size of the tumor (1)(2)(3)(4). Many authors agree that 18 F-FDG-PET/CT shows high sensitivity but the data are still heterogeneous regarding specificity (5,6).…”

Diagnostic methods to localize pulmonary nodules and management of pleural infection after lobectomy

“…The main interest are the pulmonary nodules (PNs), defined as lesions <3 cm and surrounded by wellventilated lung parenchyma (1). The first step in the diagnostic path of PNs, often identified incidentally during chest X-ray, is represented by computed tomography (CT) and/or 18-Fluorine-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT), which allow the morphological and topographical study even of very small lesions, defining their radiological characteristics with extreme precision (2). The second step is to define the histological nature of nodules.…”