Can positron emission tomography be used as a staging tool for small-cell lung cancer?

Purpose: Positron emission tomography (PET) is widely used for the staging evaluation of non-small-cell lung cancer; however, its use in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) remains investigational.

Patients And Methods: We did a retrospective study of 137 patients to evaluate the role of PET in SCLC. Fifty-one of 137 patients had computed tomography (CT) and PET scans during initial evaluation of a lung mass.