The informativeness of positron emission tomography with [ <sup>18</sup>F]-fluorodeoxyglucose in differential diagnosis of lung cancer
The aim was to study the informativeness of [ <sup>18</sup>F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) with utilization of SUV (Standardized Uptake Value) threshold more than 2.5. PET data of 347 patients with focal and infiltrate changes of lung were analyzed. 274 patients had increased focal uptake of [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose. On the basis of SUVmax value comparative analysis of sensitivity and specificity of PET in differential diagnosis of lung cancer from non-neoplastic diseases were done. The threshold value of SUV more than 2.5 and SUV more than 4.3 were taking into account. The efficacy of PET with threshold value of SUV more than 2.5 was relatively low. The analysis of our data showed that the possibilities of positron emission tomography in differential diagnosis of lung cancer, benign lung tumor and non-neoplastic diseases increased when threshold of SUV was 4.3 and more.