Valeur du FDG-PET dans la détection résiduel ou récurrent nonsmall cell lung cancer

In order to evaluate the usefulness of 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) in the assessment of therapeutic effects, a study was performed before and after therapy in 126 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) codified stage I to stage IIIB. Treatment with an early curative result was given in 58 patients, whereas in 68 cases it was limited to palliation. During the treatment follow-up period (8-40 months), each patient was evaluated every 3 months by clinical examination and ≤6 months by imaging techniques (PET and computed tomography (CT)). A diagnosis of persistent or recurrent tumour was established by means of pathological analysis in 31 patients and by clinical evolution and subsequent imaging progression in 29 other patients. PET showed increased FDG uptake in all cases (n=60) of persistent or recurrent tumour, whereas CT was nonspecific in 17 cases. Conversely, there were five false positive cases via PET imaging and three via CT. In detecting residual or recurrent NSCLC, PET had a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 92%, whereas CT had a sensitivity and specificity of 71% and 95% respectively. In conclusion, 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography correctly identified response to therapy in 96% (121 of 126) of patients. Positron emission tomography appears to be more accurate (p=0.05) than conventional imaging in distinguishing persistent or recurrent tumour from fibrotic scar in patients undergoing treatment for non-small cell lung cancer.Afin d'évaluer l'utilité du 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) en tomographie par émission de positons (PET) dans l'évaluation des effets thérapeutiques, une étude a été réalisée avant et après la thérapie chez 126 patients atteints de cancer non à petites cellules (CBNPC) a codifié la phase I au stade IIIB. Treatment with an early curative result was given in 58 patients, whereas in 68 cases it was limited to palliation. Le traitement avec un résultat curatif précoce a été donnée chez 58 patients, tandis que dans 68 cas il a été limité aux soins palliatifs. During the treatment follow-up period (8-40 months), each patient was evaluated every 3 months by clinical examination and < or =6 months by imaging techniques (PET and computed tomography (CT)). Durant le traitement, la période de suivi (8-40 mois), chaque patient a été évaluée tous les 3 mois par examen clinique et