01 July 2008
Interaction of clinical suspicion and PET in the diagnosis of suspected thoracic malignancy
Daniel BaramABCDEF, Thomas V BilfingerABCDEFMed Sci Monit 2008; 14(7): CR379-383 :: ID: 863668
Abstract
Background
This study assesses the accuracy and interaction of clinical suspicion and positron emission tomography (PET) scans in diagnosis of suspected thoracic malignancy.
Material and Method
313 patients evaluated in a University Hospital lung cancer evaluation center who underwent PET scanning and subsequently had tissue confirmation or a course of stability by CT scans over a period of two years. At the time of the initial visit, clinical suspicion based on history, physical exam and computerized tomography (CT) characteristics was assigned as low, intermediate or high probability of malignancy. Subsequently PET results were classified as negative, intermediate or positive, based on standardized uptake value [SUV] of 0, between 0 and 2.5, greater than 2.5 respectively.
Results
ROC analysis showed similar results for clinical suspicion (0.762) and PET (0.779). High clinical suspicion and positive PET had a PPV of 96.6%; low clinical suspicion and negative PET had a NPV of 100%. When PET and clinical suspicion were fully discordant, clinical suspicion was accurate in 80%, PET in 20%. When PET scan or clinical suspicion was intermediate, 35% were malignant.
Conclusions
Clinical suspicion and PET are both accurate in diagnosing thoracic malignancy. When suspicion and PET are concordant, diagnostic accuracy is very high; when discordant, clinical suspicion was more accurate. When clinical suspicion or PET were intermediate, there is a significant likelihood for cancer.
Keywords: Risk Factors, Physician's Role, Positron-Emission Tomography, Lung Neoplasms - radionuclide imaging
Editorial
01 February 2025 : Editorial
Editorial: Current Approaches to Screening for Lung Cancer in Smokers and Non-SmokersDOI: 10.12659/MSM.948255
Med Sci Monit 2025; 31:e948255
In Press
Clinical Research
Predicting Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Burden Based on Thromboelastography in Patients with Acute Ischemi...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.946303
Clinical Research
Long-Term Outcomes of Implanon in Managing Adenomyosis: A 3-Year Prospective StudyMed Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.945972
Laboratory Research
Linear Dimensional Accuracy in Maxillomandibular Records: A Comparative Study of Scannable and Transparent ...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.947265
Clinical Research
Efficacy of King's Combined Uterine Suture in Managing Placenta Accreta: A Retrospective AnalysisMed Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.945826
Most Viewed Current Articles
17 Jan 2024 : Review article 6,969,932
Vaccination Guidelines for Pregnant Women: Addressing COVID-19 and the Omicron VariantDOI :10.12659/MSM.942799
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e942799
16 May 2023 : Clinical Research 701,896
Electrophysiological Testing for an Auditory Processing Disorder and Reading Performance in 54 School Stude...DOI :10.12659/MSM.940387
Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e940387
01 Mar 2024 : Editorial 25,741
Editorial: First Regulatory Approvals for CRISPR-Cas9 Therapeutic Gene Editing for Sickle Cell Disease and ...DOI :10.12659/MSM.944204
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e944204
28 Jan 2024 : Review article 20,253
A Review of IgA Vasculitis (Henoch-Schönlein Purpura) Past, Present, and FutureDOI :10.12659/MSM.943912
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e943912