Identification of specific SUVmax ratios enhances diagnostic accuracy for staging of intrathoracic nodes in lung cancer.

Introduction: Studies demonstrating limited accuracy of 'positive' and 'negative' lymph nodes on fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET-CT in staging for lung cancer have led to guidelines stating mediastinal nodes enlarged on computed tomography, irrespective of FDG uptake, require endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA). However FDG uptake occurs on a continuous spectrum and the use of standardised uptake value (SUV)max ratios, rather than a binary classification, may have improved diagnostic accuracy.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of patients with lung cancer who had PET-CT and EBUS-TBNA in 2015-2018.