Effectiveness of positron emission tomography in the preoperative assessment of patients with suspected non-small-cell lung cancer: the PLUS multicentre randomised trial

• Published in: The Lancet (British edition) Vol. 20; pp. 1388 - 1392
• Main Authors: van Tinteren, H, Hoekstra, O S, Smit, E F, van den Bergh, J H A M, Schreurs, A J M, Stallaert, R A L M, van Velthoven, P C M, Comans, E F I, Diepenhorst, F W, Verboom, P, van Mourik, J C, Postmus, P E, Boers, M, Teule, G J J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-04-2002
• Subjects: Lung cancer; Patients; Positron emission tomography; Preoperative assessment; Randomized controlled trials
• ISSN: 0140-6736

Up to 50% of curative surgery for suspected non-small-cell lung cancer is unsuccessful. Accuracy of positron emission tomography (PET) with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose ((super18)FDG) is thought to be better than conventional staging for diagnosis of this malignancy. Describes a randomised controlled trial in patients with suspected non-small-cell lung cancer, who were scheduled for surgery after conventional workup, to test whether PET with (super18)FDG reduces number of futile thoracotomies. Found that addition of PET to conventional workup prevented unnecessary surgery in one out of 5 patients with suspected non-small-cell lung cancer. (Original abstract - amended)