Differentiating benign and malignant pulmonary nodules using different time-points in long-axial field of view [18F]FDG-PET/CT: emphasis on metabolic tumor volume (MTV) fluctuation

Ziel/Aim: The aim of our study was to assess the potential advantage of a 10-minute acquisition time with different imaging reconstruction time-points for differentiating benign from malignant pulmonary nodules in patients undergoing ¹⁸F- fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) long-axial field-of-view positron emission tomography (LAFOV-PET/CT) scan.

Methodik/Methods: We included 26 patients with a pulmonary nodule who underwent [¹⁸F]FDG LAVOF-PET/CT at 60 min p.i. with an overall acquisition time of 10 minutes. Images were reconstructed at 2 and 10 minutes. Semiquantitative PET parameters standard uptake volume (SUV) maximum, SUVmean and metabolic tumor volume (MTV) were obtained for each pulmonary lesion and both time-points. The percentage change (%) was calculated and compared using a two-sample t-test. Lesions were defined as malignant based on the histopathological result or tumor board decision.

Ergebnisse/Results: In total 47 (15 benign, 27 malignant) pulmonary nodules were included. There was no significant difference for benign and malignant lesions in mean SUVmax (6.3±5.5 vs. 6.2±5.8; p=0.471) and SUVmean (15.2±9.1 vs. 12.6±13.2; p=0.247). However, a significant difference between the 2- and 10-min scan was observed for MTV, with a significantly higher value in benign compared to malignant lesions 207.9±379.3 vs. 39.8±47.3; p=0.014).

Schlussfolgerungen/Conclusions: Conducting [¹⁸F]FDG LAVOF-PET/CT with an acquisition time of 10 minutes after 60 min p.i. and reconstructing images at 2 and 10 minutes might be helpful in discriminating benign from malignant pulmonary nodules, particularly by measuring the MTV as the percentage change between both scans.

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
12. März 2025