High FDG uptake predicts poorer survival in locally advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer patients undergoing curative radiotherapy, independently of tumor size.

Objectives: Despite radical radiotherapy and chemotherapy (CT), the prognosis of locally advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is poor. New prognostic indicators are being looked forward to improve the survival. [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake on PET/CT has been observed as a prognostic marker mainly in early-stage disease.