Impact of ~(18)F-FDG PET/CT on treatment strategy of non-small cell lung cancer / 中国医学影像技术

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the impact of PET/CT on the clinical therapeutical strategy of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Sixty patients with histologically confirmed NSCLC supposed to accept radical radiotherapy or surgical operation were firsthy divided into group A (stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ) and group B (stage Ⅲ) according to CT findings, and the individualized treatment strategy was designed, then restage and compare with different stage and management with initial treatment strategy by PET/CT scanning. Results ①PET/CT scanning restaged the TNM stage in 53.33% (32/60) patients, including 3 of T stage, 23 of N stage and 9 of M stage. Changes of stage occurred in 65.85% (27/41) patients with adenocarcinoma and in 26.32% (5/19) with squamous carcinoma (P＜0.05), while in 34.29 (12/35) with central and 57.14% (20/35) with peripheral NSCLCs (P＜0.05). ②PET/CT scanning resulted in alteration of the managements of NSCLC patients. The management changed from radical into palliative strategy with PET/CT information in 9 (15.00%) patients. In 25 patients who were supposed to accept surgical operation, the treatment changed to radical radiotherapy in 8 (8/25, 32.00%) and to palliative radiotherapy in 5 (20.00%) patients. In 35 patients who were supposed to accept radiotherapy, surgical operation or palliative radiotherapy was finally chosen in 5.71% (2/35) and 11.43% (4/35) patients, respectively. Conclusion PET/CT images can make significant alteration to clinical stage and treatment plan in patients with NSCLC.