Combined positron emission tomography and computed tomography to visualize lung cancer: false positive and false negative results (literature review)
Introduction: Lung cancer is an acute problem in the world and in Kazakhstan, being the most common cause of cancer mortality. It is known that malignant tumor cells actively accumulate 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose during combined positron emission and computed tomography (PET CT). The purpose of this study was to determine the role of combined PET CT in lung cancer diagnostics. Results: Different authors report a varied diagnostic value of PET CT indicators in detecting malignant foci in the lungs. Meta-analysis of data of 12 studies conducted in 2012-2017 allowed deducing the average diagnostic values of PET CT in detecting malignant nodules in the lungs: the sensitivity was 0,819 (95% CI: 0,794-0,843), the specificity - 0,624 (95% CI: 0,582-0,665), positive predictive value - 0,802 (95% CI: 0,783-0,819), negative predictive value - 0,652 (95% CI: 0,618-0,684), and diagnostic accuracy - 0,649 (95% CI: 0,625-0,673). Conclusion: PET CT has good diagnostic accuracy in assessing lung nodular formation, which is suspicious for malignancy. However, the estimated diagnostic value of PET CT indicators in detecting malignant focuses of the lungs varies. Therefore, PET CT is not a method of choice for primary lung cancer diagnostics. The researchers recommend using PET CT for patients with histologically verified lung cancer.