Positron-emission tomography for lung cancer in a tuberculosis-endemic region

Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann. 2010 Feb;18(1):33-8. doi: 10.1177/0218492309352119.

Abstract

A potential limitation of integrated positron-emission tomography and computed tomography in non-small-cell lung cancer may be false-positive results due to granulomatous disease. This retrospective study examined the accuracy of this imaging modality for mediastinal nodal staging of non-small-cell lung cancer in Hong Kong where tuberculosis remains endemic. There were 249 lymph node stations evaluated in 107 patients, of whom 38 (36%) had active tuberculosis or evidence of previous tuberculosis. Imaging results were compared with histological findings. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of integrated imaging for mediastinal nodal staging were 52%, 86%, and 80%, respectively; the overall positive-predictive value for mediastinal nodal metastasis was 46%, and the overall negative-predictive value was 89%. The positive-predictive value for mediastinal nodal metastasis was 39% in patients with tuberculosis and 50% in controls; the negative-predictive value was high in both groups (92% and 87%). The likelihood ratio for true positives was 6.47 in patients with tuberculosis vs. 10.97 in controls. This suggests that the reliability of positron-emission/computed tomography may be substantially poorer in patients with tuberculosis. Histological confirmation should be considered mandatory in patients with suspected metastasis on integrated imaging.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / diagnostic imaging*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / epidemiology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / surgery
  • Cohort Studies
  • Comorbidity
  • Endemic Diseases / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Hong Kong / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung / surgery
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lung Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Lung Neoplasms / surgery
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Male
  • Mediastinum / diagnostic imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tuberculosis / epidemiology*