PET Scans Could Be Key to Better Lung Cancer Treatment

PET scans encourage a more accurate diagnosis of the progression of lung cancer, allowing for increased accuracy and better care for patients diagnosed with the disease, according to new research published on Tuesday in the Journal of National Cancer Institute. The study examined the accuracy of the 18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET in diagnosing and determining the correct stage of the disease.

"Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death and early diagnosis provides the best chance for long term survival," says Dr. Ung, chair, Lung Cancer Site Group, Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook and chair of the study. "It is our hope this systematic review contributes to clinical guideline discussions exploring the potential of PET as part of standard preoperative work-up - along with computed tomography (CT) - to further enhance assessment of early-stage lung cancer."

PET scans are an improvement over traditional CT imaging because a PET scan can give information on biochemical processes that may be indicative of changes in the body before they occur. A CT can only record the progression of the disease based on already apparent chances as well as the structure of the lung cancer. By knowing the progression of the biochemical processes, researchers were better able to determine the course that the lung cancer would take.

As well as the additional information available with a PET scan, these images can be used to identify malignant lung tumors from benign tumors at sizes as small as 1 centimeter. A PET scan was also proved more accurate for identifying the stage of mediastinal non-small cell lung cancer. The researchers also found that the accuracy of making the diagnosis also improved.

Lung cancer deaths are responsible for more deaths that the amount of prostate or breast cancer related deaths combined. It is estimated that over 150,00 people will die of lung cancer in the United States each year. This makes it all the more important for accurate staging to be available to allow for the appropriate treatment to be quickly determined and implemented.

"Future research is needed to determine not only if PET should be integrated into the standard staging and diagnostic processes of lung cancer but also how PET would be incorporated into the staging algorithm," says Ung.

Currently the Lung Cancer Disease Site Group of Cancer Care Ontario's Program in Evidence-Based Care is taking this new research into account while reviewing health technology in evaluating lung cancer.

Source:

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, "PET imaging significantly enhances standard imaging in lung cancer staging", Eurekalert