Avoids nontherapeutic thoracotomy in 20% by detecting previously occult distant disease Negative F-18 FDG PET: Does not exclude microscopic disease; does not preclude mediastinal/hilar surgical staging Increasingly used in simulations for radiation treatment planning
Early glucose metabolic response predicts long-term patient survival
Prognostic data from F-18 FDG PET: ↑ SUV associated with aggressive neoplasm, poorer prognosis
Useful for monitoring response to cytotoxic and biologic therapy
False-negative PET: Tumor with low metabolic rate (low-grade adenoCA, adenocarcinoma in situ, carcinoid), tumor

< 10 mm “stunned” tumor post therapy, high serum glucose (competition)

False-positive PET: Nonmalignant, metabolically active conditions (active inflammation, infectious, granulomatous disease)