Abstract
7591 Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) represents 15%-25% of all lung cancers. Despite favorable response rates after initial treatment, SCLC is likely to recur and long term prognosis is dismal. The ability to accurately measure response to therapy is critical in order to determine which patients might benefit from further treatment and which patients might be spared additional treatment and the potential for additional treatment-related side effects. After treatment, functional imaging with (18) F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) alone or in combination with computerized tomography (CT) may help distinguish between necrotic or fibrous tissue and residual disease, and thus be a useful tool in guiding further treatment and prognosis. Methods: This study was a retrospective chart review of patients with SCLC treated between January 1, 1992, and July 31, 2007. Results: A total of 21 patients with limited stage SCLC were identified as having a PET scan after treatment. The median duration between the last chemotherapy to PET scan was 37 days (13 to 125 days). PET scan results were positive in 11 (52.4%) patients and negative in 10 (47.6%). Median follow-up for all patients was 36.8 months, ranging from 6.8 to 65.9 months. Median survival time for all patients was 19.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 10.2 to >65.8 months). The estimated median survival time for PET negative patients was higher than the PET positive patients (29.2 vs. 10.3 months, P = 0.09). Estimated median progression-free survival for all patients was 8.1 months (95% CI, 4.3 to 11.9 months). Only about 5% of patients with SCLC treated in this time period underwent post-treatment PET scans. Conclusions: From this study, we conclude that post-treatment PET/PET-CT scanning has prognostic significance and currently post-treatment PET scanning may be underutilized. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
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