Abstract

Positron emission tomography (PET/CT), which detects the biologic activity of tumor cells is routinely used in staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the role of PET/CT in predicting disease free long-term survival of surgically treated stage I NSCLC is not clear. In this study, we aimed to investigate prognostic value of metabolic uptake (SUVmax) of the tumor in patients with surgically treated stage I NSCLC. Two-hundred and sixty patients who had preoperative PET/CT and pulmonary resection for stage I NSCLC between 2005 and 2015 were included into study. The patients were divided into four groups according to the SUVmax value, 0-5, group 1, 5-10 group 2, 10-15 group 3 and over 15 group 4. Lung resection, segmentectomy/lobectomy, was performed within 30 days of PET/CT in all patients. Tumor SUVmax and other potential prognostic variables were chosen for analysis in this study. Patients univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify prognostic factors associated with long-term survival. There were 53 females and 207 males with a mean age of 61,5 (range 20-84). The mean SUVmax value of the tumors in PET/CT was 10,1 (1-48). The type of the lung resection was segmentectomy in 33(12,7%) and lobectomy in 227(87,3%). Pathologic staging of the tumor was stage 1A in 156(60%), and stage 1B in 104(40%). Median follow-up time was 44 months, and overall 5-year survival rate was 81,7% and there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (p=0,3). SUVmax value of the tumor was not effected by age, gender, tumor type and location (peripheral or central)(p>0,05). However, it was found that the SUVmax value significantly increased along with tumor size (p<0,05.). Logistic regression analysis revealed that, there is an association between perineural invasion and SUVmax value of the tumor (p=0.049). Although the previous studies revealed correlation between higher SUVmax values and impaired long term survival, this study revealed no correlation between SUVmax values and long term survival in patients with surgically treated stage I NSCLC. However, tumors with higher SUVmax values have higher chance of perineural invasion. Further studies for possible relationship between metabolic activity and histopathologic characteristics of the tumors are warranted.

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