Impact of FDG-labelled positron emission tomography imaging on the management of non-small-cell lung cancer

Lung cancer is currently the leading cause of cancer-related death in both men and women in most Western countries. Although 5-year survival rates hav e doubled from 1960s, they are low compared with survival rates for other c ancer types. Tumour stage is the strongest prognostic factor and the most i mportant parameter that guides treatment decision making. Metabolic imaging with fluorodeoxyglucose-labelled positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) ha s proved superior to conventional imaging for staging of non-small-cell lun g cancer. This new imaging modality permits more accurate planning of treat ment with surgery and radiotherapy and provides information of greater prog nostic significance than what can be obtained with conventional approaches. FDG-PET has been approved in the USA and the UK as a basic and invaluable tool in the management of lung cancer. This paper reviews current trends in clinical practice on the applications of FDG-PET in the management of non- small-cell lung cancer.