Prediction of pulmonary function after major lung resection using lung perfusion scintigraphy with single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography.

Objective: Precise prediction of postoperative pulmonary function is extremely important for accurately evaluating the risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality after major surgery for lung cancer. This study aimed to compare the accuracy of a single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) method that we recently developed for predicting postoperative pulmonary function versus the accuracy of both the conventional simplified calculating (SC) method and the method using planar images of lung perfusion scintigraphy.

Methods: The relationship between the postoperative observed % values of the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV) or diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DL or DL') and the % predicted postoperative (%ppo) values of FEV, DL, or DL' calculated by the three methods were analyzed in 30 consecutive patients with lung cancer undergoing lobectomy.