Diagnostic and clinical value of F-18 FDG PET/CT in thoracic carcinoid tumors

Abstract

Aim: To assess the correlation between standard uptake values ​​(SUVmax, SUVmean) and Ki-67 in typical lung carcinoid (TC) tumors.

Methods: Thirty-eight patients with thoracic masses sent for diagnosis and staging were included in the study. F-18 FDG PET / CT was applied to all patients before the operation. The patients were operated by thoracic surgery clinic. By determining different cut-off values ​​(2.5 and 0.5), SUVmean and SUVmax values ​​of the lesions from the curves drawn to the area of ​​interest were calculated.

Results: Thirty-eight patients were included in the study (18 women, 20 men). The average age of our patients was 45. Pathological diagnoses of all patients were determined as typical carcinoids. Eight of our patients had parenchymal lesions and twenty of them had endobronchial lesions. The average of the Ki-67 index was about 3-4% (range 1-10%). No recurrence or death was detected after resection in the 5-year follow-up period. SUVmean1 and SUVmean2 values ​​were statistically significant when compared with SUVmax1 and SUVmax2 values ​​(p <0.05).

Conclusion: We think that the SUVmean and Ki-67 index may be an important prognostic indicator that identifies high-risk subgroups. It is thought that Ki-67 indices may correlate well with SUVmean values, and low cut-off values ​​may be more suitable for diagnosis and prognosis in typical carcinoid tumors. SUVmean values ​​can be used for lung carcinoid tumors and F-18 FDG PET/CT imaging is useful in the approach to carcinoid tumors of the lung before thoracic surgery.