2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate and Pleural-Effusion

The role of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET imaging for diagnosing malignant pleural effusions is not well defined. The aim of this study was to summarize the evidence for its use in ruling in or out the malignant origin of a pleural effusion or thickening.. A meta-analysis was conducted of diagnostic accuracy studies published in the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase (inception to June 2013) without language restrictions. Two investigators selected studies that had evaluated the performance of FDG-PET imaging in patients with pleural effusions or thickening, using pleural cytopathology or histopathology as the reference standard for malignancy. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to FDG-PET imaging interpretation (qualitative or semiquantitative), PET imaging equipment (PET vs integrated PET-CT imaging), and/or target population (known lung cancer or malignant pleural mesothelioma). Study quality was assessed using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2. We used a bivariate random-effects model for the analysis and pooling of diagnostic performance measures across studies.. Fourteen non-high risk of bias studies, comprising 407 patients with malignant and 232 with benign pleural conditions, met the inclusion criteria. Semiquantitative PET imaging readings had a significantly lower sensitivity for diagnosing malignant effusions than visual assessments (82% vs 91%; P = .026). The pooled test characteristics of integrated PET-CT imaging systems using semiquantitative interpretations for identifying malignant effusions were: sensitivity, 81%; specificity, 74%; positive likelihood ratio (LR), 3.22; negative LR, 0.26; and area under the curve, 0.838. Resultant data were heterogeneous, and spectrum bias should be considered when appraising FDG-PET imaging operating characteristics.. The moderate accuracy of PET-CT imaging using semiquantitative readings precludes its routine recommendation for discriminating malignant from benign pleural effusions.

Topics: Diagnosis, Differential; Glucose-6-Phosphate; Humans; Pleural Effusion; Pleural Effusion, Malignant; Radionuclide Imaging

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for thoracic tumours has emerged as a minimally invasive therapy option for primary and secondary lung tumours and has gained increasing acceptance for pain palliation. The procedure is well tolerated and the complication rates are low. RFA provides the opportunity for localized tissue destruction of limited tumour volumes with medium and long term follow-up data suggesting that survival figures do parallel those of non-surgical treatment modalities. The purpose of this article is to review the status of RFA in lung tumours, to emphasize its place in symptomatic palliation and to discuss its potential role in conjunction with radiation or systemic therapy.

Topics: Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Catheter Ablation; Colorectal Neoplasms; Combined Modality Therapy; Glucose-6-Phosphate; Hemorrhage; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Palliative Care; Patient Selection; Pleural Effusion; Pleural Neoplasms; Pneumothorax; Prognosis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome