A follow-up of integrated positron emission tomography/computed tomography after curative resection of non–small-cell lung cancer in asymptomatic patients

Objective

A follow-up integrated positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), as part of a more intensive surveillance program, has been performed at around 1 year after curative resection, regardless of the patients' symptoms or findings in other tests. This study was designed to evaluate the results of this follow-up integrated PET/CT in patients treated for non–small-cell lung cancer without symptoms or abnormal findings.

Methods

Between January 2003 and December 2006, this study enrolled 86 patients with non–small cell lung cancer who had no clinical or radiologic evidence of recurrence after curative resection before integrated PET/CT and underwent a follow-up integrated PET/CT around 1 year at our institution.

Results

The time from operation to the follow-up integrated PET/CT check was 13.4 ± 4.4 months. Integrated PET/CT showed negative findings in 41 (47.7%) patients, equivocal findings in 16 (18.6%) patients, and positive findings in 29 (33.7%) patients. Twenty-seven (31.4%) patients had recurrent disease and 2 patients had extrathoracic double primary cancer. Six patients had extrathoracic recurrence without intrathoracic recurrence.

Conclusions

A postoperative follow-up integrated PET/CT can be used for early detection of recurrence in asymptomatic patients who had had resection of non–small-cell lung cancer. Further studies are required to evaluate the cost-effectiveness or survival benefit of follow-up integrated PET/CT.

CTSNet classification: 10, 10.4

Abbreviations and Acronyms: ACCP, American College of Chest Physicians, CT, computed tomography, FDG, ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose, MRI, magnetic resonance imaging, NCCN, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, NSCLC, non–small-cell lung cancer, PET, positron emission tomography