PET/CT implication on bronchogenic carcinoma TNM staging and follow-up using RECIST/PERCIST criteria: a comparative study with CT

Abstract

Abstract Background To evaluate the role of PET/CT on bronchogenic carcinoma staging as well as treatment response evaluation on follow-up compared to CT study alone. Methods A prospective study of 60 patients confirmed histopathologically to have non-small cell bronchogenic carcinoma, 30 of them came for staging (group T) while the rest 30 came for follow-up (group F) to assess therapy response. All patients underwent PET/CT with data analysis done using the eighth edition tumor, nodal, metastatic staging (TNM) staging for group T and RECIST/PERCIST criteria for group F. The CT data alone transferred to a blind radiologist for analysis using the same parameters. The results were collected and compared. Results Regarding group T, 12 patients showed different TNM staging between PET/CT and CT alone, 5 cases with different T stagings, 4 cases with different N stagings, and 5 cases with different M stagings. Also, 8 cases showed different surgical stagings. Regarding group F, 9 cases showed a difference between RECIST obtained by CT and PERCIST obtained by PET/CT with most of the cases (6 cases) showed change from partial or stable response to progressive response. Conclusion PET/CT has a significant role in TNM staging of bronchogenic carcinoma more at T2 staging due to its ability to differentiate the tumoral mass from the nearby pulmonary reaction. Also, PET/CT makes a difference in tumoral follow-up by its ability to detect the functional changes even before structural changes. Finally, PET/CT is a very important tool in management strategy.