(18)FDG IN THE PRIMARY STAGING OF LUNG-TU MORS - RESULTS WITH A GAMMA-CAMERA AND A 511 KEV COLLIMATOR

The diagnosis of primary lung tumors requires a precise staging accord ing to the TNM classification. In contrast to established imaging meth ods (18)FDG describes the functional metabolic processes in the tumor tissue due to increased glycolysis. This paper describes the use of (1 8)FDG in the primary staging of lung tumors and metastases. 44 patient s were studied with a gamma camera and a 511 keV collimator. In compar ison to pulmonary tumors and metastases detected by other imaging meth ods (107) the accumulation of (18)FDG has a sensitivity of 85%, in les ions verified by histology (50) of 89%, in primary tumors (35) of 100% and in metastases (63) of 76%. As an alternative to FDG PET studies, primary staging of lung tumors is possible with a gamma camera, suitab le for ECT and fitted with a 511 keV collimator.