Thoracic positron emission tomography: ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose and beyond

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Oncology
• Nuclear Medicine

Background:

• Conventional anatomic imaging is challenged by medical advancements.
• Physiologic imaging is critical for disease management, particularly in oncology.
• Nuclear medicine plays a vital role in cancer detection, diagnosis, staging, and treatment assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the critical role and advancements of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in thoracic oncology.
• To discuss the integration of PET with Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
• To explore novel PET applications beyond 18F-flurodeoxyglucose (FDG) for targeted therapies.

Main Methods:

• Integration of PET with CT (PET/CT) and MRI (PET/MRI) for enhanced visualization.
• Utilizing 18F-flurodeoxyglucose (FDG) for general tumor imaging.
• Employing novel tracers like 68Ga-DOTATATE for receptor-targeted imaging of neuroendocrine tumors.

Main Results:

• PET/CT is a primary tool for evaluating pulmonary nodules and staging lung cancer.
• PET/CT provides essential physiological data for assessing treatment response.
• Emerging PET/MRI applications show promise in specific lung cancer scenarios.
• Receptor-targeted PET imaging, such as with 68Ga-DOTATATE, enables precise visualization of neuroendocrine tumors.

Conclusions:

• Positron emission tomography (PET) is indispensable in modern thoracic oncology.
• Advanced PET techniques, including PET/CT and PET/MRI, significantly improve patient care.
• Targeted PET imaging facilitates personalized treatment strategies, including radionuclide therapy.