Objective: This study aims to explore factors influencing metabolic and volumetric parameters of [¹⁸F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT) imaging in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the predictive value for prognosis of NSCLC.
Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on 133 NSCLC patients who received ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT imaging. After ¹⁸F-FDG injection at 3.7 MBq/kg, 1 h early imaging and 2 h delayed imaging were performed. The metabolic and volumetric parameters such as SUVmax, SUVpeak, SULmax, SULpeak, MTV and TLG were measured. The tumor markers including CFYRA21-1, NSE, SCC-ag and the immunohistochemical biomarkers including Ki-67, P53 and CK-7 were examined. All patients were followed up for 24 months, and the 1-year and 2-year overall survival rate (OS) were recorded.
Results: There were significant differences in metabolic and volumetric parameters (SUVmax, SUVpeak, SULmax, SULpeak and TLG) between adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of NSCLC. SUVmax, SUVpeak, SULmax, SULpeak, MTV and TLG were correlated with tumor marker NSE and TNM stage. MTV and TLG were related to CYFRA21-1, and only MTV was associated with SCC-ag. SUVpeak and SULmax were related to P53. In addition, early SULpeak and delayed MTV were significant prognostic factors of 1-year OS, while early SUVpeak, delayed TLG and delayed MTV were predictive factors of 2-year OS in NSCLC.
Conclusion: The metabolic and volumetric parameters of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT were related to a variety of factors such as NSE, CFYRA21-1, SCC-ag, P53 and TNM stage, and have a predictive value in prognosis of NSCLC.
Keywords: NSCLC, ¹⁸F-FDG, PET/CT, metabolic parameters, volumetric parameters