Advantages of Combined PET-CT in Mediastinal Staging in Patients with Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma

• Published in: Acta informatica medica 2016-04, Vol.24 (2), p.99-102
• Main Authors: Beslic, Nermina, Sadija, Amera, Milardovic, Renata, Ceric, Timur, Ceric, Sejla, Beganovic, Adnan, Kristic, Spomenka, Cavaljuga, Semra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original Paper
• ISSN: 0353-8109; 1986-5988
• DOI: 10.5455/aim.2016.24.99-102

Precise mediastinal lymph node staging in patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) provides important prognostic information and it is obligatory in treatment strategy planning. 18Fluoro-deoxy-glucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography - computerized tomography (PET-CT) based on detection of metabolic activity showed superiority in preoperative staging of lung carcinoma. Total number of 26 patients diagnosed with NSCLC were included in this retrospective, cross-sectional study. Status of mediastinal lymph nodes was assessed in all patients comparing contrast enhanced CT and 18F-FDG PET-CT findings. We found in our study that 50% of patients had different N stage on contrast enhanced CT comparing to 18F-FDG PET-CT findings. Among the total number of patients which had different nodal status on PET-CT comparing to CT alone, we found in our study that 54% of patients had change in further therapy protocol after PET-CT change of nodal stage. Combined PET-CT which offers advantages of both modalities is excellent method for nodal (N) staging, so it is recommended in initial staging in patients with NSCLC. PET-CT used preopratively for mediastinal nodal staging has significant impact on further therapy planning and also has an consequential impact on health system savings.