Comparison of whole-body FDG-PET to bone scan for detection of bone metastases in patients with a new diagnosis of lung cancer.

The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy and agreement of whole-body positron-emission tomography (PET) scan to bone scintigraphy for the detection of bony metastases in staging patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer. The tumor registry and nuclear medicine database at our institution were queried and identified all patients between July 1998 and August 2002 with a new diagnosis of lung cancer, a whole-body 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG)-PET scan, and a bone scan prior to therapy. All of these patients' radiologic reports were then retrospectively reviewed, and confirmation of bone metastases was determined by consideration of all available clinical information.

False-negative findings for primary lung tumors on FDG positron emission tomography: staging and prognostic implications.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the stage and outcome of patients with primary lung tumors who had a negative finding on a FDG positron emission tomography (PET) study at the time of diagnosis.

Materials And Methods: A total of 3912 patients between November 1994 and August 2002 underwent thoracic or whole-body PET performed at our institution for evaluation of a pulmonary abnormality suspicious for lung cancer. We identified 20 patients with a biopsy-proven primary lung tumor and a negative PET study at the time of presentation.