Usefulness of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in malignancy of pulmonary artery mimicking pulmonary embolism

摘要: Background The role of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) in evaluating pulmonary artery lesions has not yet been established. The purpose this study is to evaluate the usefulness 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging differentiating malignant from benign (PA) lesions. Methods In retrospective study, 18 subjects with 26 low-attenuated filling defects suspicious for PA malignancy on contrast-enhanced chest CT were enrolled; all whom subsequently underwent PET/CT. maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) lesions, defined as uptake, was measured. final diagnosis then determined by pathological findings, follow-up or clinical follow-up, and compared PET imaging. Results In total, 6 sarcomas, 5 tumour embolism, 15 thromboembolism (PTE) occurred cohort. Not only SUVmax (10.2 ± 10.8) significantly higher than that associated PTE (1.7 ± 0.3; P < 0.001), no overlap between groups. Conversely, statistically significant difference sarcomas (12.8 ± 14.7) embolism (7.0 ± 1.32; P = 1.000). Conclusions  18F-FDG a useful modality patients inconclusive low-attenuation CT.