Can dynamic imaging, using 18F-FDG PET/CT and CT perfusion differentiate between benign and malignant pulmonary nodules?

Abstract

AIM

To derive and compare metabolic parameters relating to benign and malignant pulmonary nodules using dynamic 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-D-glucose (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT), and nodule perfusion parameters derived through perfusion computed tomography (CT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty patients with 21 pulmonary nodules incidentally detected on CT underwent a dynamic ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and a perfusion CT. The maximum standardised uptake value (SUV_max) was measured on conventional ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT images. The influx constant (K_i) was calculated from the dynamic ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT data using Patlak model. Arterial flow (AF) using the maximum slope model and blood volume (BV) using the Patlak plot method for each nodule were calculated from the perfusion CT data. All nodules were characterised as malignant or benign based on histopathology or 2 year follow up CT. All parameters were statistically compared between the two groups using the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test.

RESULTS

Twelve malignant and 9 benign lung nodules were analysed (median size 20.1 mm, 9–29 mm) in 21 patients (male/female=11/9; mean age±SD: 65.3±7.4; age range: 50–76 years). The average SUV_max values±SD of the benign and malignant nodules were 2.2±1.7 vs 7.0±4.5, respectively (p=0.0148). Average K_i values in benign and malignant nodules were 0.0057±0.0071 and 0.0230±0.0155 min^-1, respectively (p=0.0311). Average BV for the benign and malignant nodules were 11.6857±6.7347 and 28.3400±15.9672 ml/100ml, respectively (p=0.0250). Average AF for the benign and malignant nodules were 74.4571±89.0321 and 89.200±49.8883 ml/100g/min, respectively (p=0.1613).

CONCLUSIONS

Dynamic ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and perfusion CT derived blood volume have similar capability to differentiate benign from malignant lung nodules.