Is FDG-PET/CT Useful for Diagnosing Pulmonary Metastasis in Patients with Soft Tissue Sarcoma?

Anticancer Research
Tomohito HagiAkihiro Sudo

Abstract

In patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS), distinguishing small metastatic pulmonary nodules from benign ones remains difficult. This study aimed to determine the accuracy of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) in detecting pulmonary metastasis and identify factors affecting sensitivity with STS. The clinical records and chest CT and FDG-PET/CT scans of 102 patients with STS were reviewed to determine the presence of pulmonary nodules. A significant relationship was observed between nodule size and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax). For nodules smaller than 5 mm, only 10 out of 76 metastatic pulmonary nodules exhibited FDG accumulation, showing a weak correlation between nodule size and SUVmax Conclusion: The role of FDG-PET/CT in differentiating metastatic from benign pulmonary nodules was unsatisfactory, especially for small nodules. Careful follow-up using CT scan may still be appropriate for diagnosing pulmonary nodules smaller than 5 mm.

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