18F-FDG-PET/CT analysis in hospitalized patients affected by pulmonary disease: The experience of the Nuclear Medicine Unit of “Policlinico Tor Vegata”

Abstract

Objective The main aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the clinical data and outcomes of a cohort of 492 hospitalized patients who underwent fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG)-PET/CT analysis at the nuclear medicine unit of ‘Policlinico Tor Vergata’ in Rome during the years 2017 and 2018 with particular emphasis for patients affected by pulmonary diseases. Methods Anamnestic data (age and gender), main pathologic conditions, results of F-FDG-PET/CT examination, appropriateness of the request, and medical records of 492 consecutive hospitalized patients who underwent F-FDG-PET/CT analysis (55.38 ± 3.78 years; range 33–81 years) from January 2017 to December 2018 were obtained. Results Considering all examinations, positive results were observed in 66.9% of cases whereas it was not possible to perform a diagnosis in 12.7% of cases (doubt results). About 20-fold increase in the percentage of doubt results was observed in F-FDG-PET/CT analysis with no appropriateness as compared to those with double appropriateness (both the request and clinical). Noteworthy, our data showed a 95% higher concordance between the positive results of the F-FDG-PET/CT examination and the histologic diagnosis. Conversely, the concordance between the analysis of the bronchoalveolar lavages and the PET analysis was very low. Conclusion Data here reported showed the high accuracy of the F-FDG-PET/CT performed in our department, mainly for pulmonary diseases, also highlighting the importance of continuously updating the selection criteria for patients who need PET examinations.