The role of (18)f-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography / computed tomography to differentiate malign from benign lesions detected in lung, liver and pancreas

ABSTRACT The Role of (18)F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography / Computed Tomography to Differentiate Malign from Benign Lesions Detected in Lung, Liver and Pancreas Aim: The aim of this study was to detect diagnostic accuracy of positron emission tomography and computed tomography for lung, liver and pancreas lesions which were seen frequently at our department between 2008 and 2012 and investigate the role of (18)F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography to discriminate malign from benign lesions. Materials and Methods: In this study, 331 patients in whom positron emission tomography and computed tomography was performed to diagnose of lung, liver and pancreas lesions detected on imaging modalities between January 2008 and December 2012 at the Nuclear Medicine Departmant of Çukurova Univercity and who had histopathological or clinical follow up findings were included. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to their organs lesions and groups were evaluated seperately. Results: The sensivitiy, spesifity, positive predictiv value, negative predictive value and accuracy for positron emission tomography and computed tomography using a SUVmax cutoff of 2,5 for malignancy was 98 %, 51 %, 85 %, 91 % and 85 % respectively in patients had lung lesions. When using a cutoff of 4,7; the sensivitiy, spesifity, positive predictiv value, negative predictiv value and accuracy for positron emission tomography and computed tomography was 95 %, 75 %, 91 %, 85 % and 89 % respectively (p<0,05). For malignancy in the liver the sensivitiy, spesifity, positive predictiv value, negative predictiv value and accuracy for positron emission tomography and computed tomography was 88 %, 56 %, 90 %, 50 % and 83 % respectively (p<0,05). For malignancy in the pancreas the sensivitiy, spesifity, positive predictiv value, negative predictiv value and accuracy for positron emission tomography and computed tomography was 83 %, 82 %, 89 %, 73 % and 83 % respectively (p<0,05). Conclusion: (18)F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography is an useful noninvasive tool to demonstrate malignant lesions. The lesions with high fluorodeoxyglucose uptake are found to be malignant with high probability. Although it is considered that infections/inflammatory process can cause false positive results, the tumors which showed low fluorodeoxyglucose uptake can cause false negative results. Keywords: Fluorodeoxyglucose, Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography, Lung, Liver, Pancreas Lesions, SUVmax Value.