The value of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of different size of solitary pulmonary nodules

This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) with different diameters. One hundred eighty two consecutive patients with SPN who underwent (18)F-FDG PET/CT examination were retrospectively studied. Patients were categorized into 3 groups according to the diameter of nodules: Group A with the diameter of greater than or equal to 6 mm and less than or equal to 10 mm; Group B with diameter greater than 10 mm and less than or equal to 20 mm; Group C with diameter greater than 20 mm and less than or equal to 30 mm. The efficiency of PET/CT, PET and CT in the diagnosis of benign and malignant SPNs and different subgroup of SPNs was calculated. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROCs) were drawn and area under the curves (AUCs) were compared between different groups. The age, diameter, mean standardized uptake value (SUV(mean)) and maximum standardized uptake value (SUV(max)) of benign and malignant nodules were significantly different (P < .05). For overall SPNs, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV, and NPV of PET/CT were 98.35%, 77.05%, 91.21%, 89.47%, and 95.92%, respectively. The AUC of PET/CT was significantly larger than that of SUV(mean), SUV(max), and CT (P < .05). For different size of SPNs, the AUC of PET/CT in group A was higher than that in group B and group C, but there was no significant difference with CT (P > .05). In group B, the accuracy of PET/CT in the diagnosis of SPN was significantly higher than that of CT (P < .05). (18)F-FDG PET/CT demonstrated excellent performance in identifying different size of SPNs, especially for those with diameter between 11 and 20 mm, the diagnostic value of (18)F-FDG PET/CT is significantly higher than other methods.