Role of Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography in Pulmonary Neoplasms

Positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT) has become a routine imaging modality in body oncology and is particularly well suited for the management of patients with lung cancer. Current clinical applications of PET-CT in patients with lung cancer include evaluation of indeterminate pulmonary nodules, initial staging of lung cancer, restaging of lung cancer following treatment, and radiation therapy planning. Contemporary PET-CT scanners allow comprehensive diagnostic PET and CT imaging in a single imaging session. Interpretation and reporting of PET-CT examinations of patients with lung cancer require a thorough and integrated approach taking advantage of the anatomic and metabolic information.