The contribution of positron emission tomography in pleural disease

Revue des Maladies Respiratoires. 2008 Feb;25(2):129-38. [Link]

Duysinx B, Corhay JL, Larock MP, Withofs N, Bury T, Hustinx R, Louis R.

Service de Pneumologie, CHU Sart-Tilman, Liège, Belgium. bduysinx@swing.be

Abstract

Introduction: Positron emission tomography (PET) has a clear role in oncology, particularly in thoracic disease. In the light of our experience and a revue of the literature we define precisely the role of metabolic imaging in the diagnosis of pleural pathology.

Background: In particular PET allows characterisation of malignant pleural disease and provides prognostic information in mesothelioma. Metabolic imaging provides clinical information for the staging of pulmonary cancer, in the search for a primary tumour in metastatic pleurisy and also in the follow up of chronic or recurrent pleural pathology.

Conclusions: It is justified, therefore, that PET joins the diagnostic armamentarium of pleural pathology, solid or liquid.

Keywords: Positron emission tomography, Pleurisy, Pleural mesothelioma, Pleural metastases, Lung cancer