Prognostic Value of super(18)F-FDG PET/CT in Patients with Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Purpose: To evaluate prognostic value of integrated 2-deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro-d-glucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) and correlate histopathological subtype with maximum standardized uptake value (SUV sub(max)) and survival in patients with malignant mesothelioma (MM). Procedures: Retrospective review of FDG-PET/CT scans, with derivation of SUV sub(max) of FDG-avid lesions, was performed in patients with biopsy-proven MM. Clinical follow-up and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed. Results: Forty-six patients (37 M:9 F; mean age 61years) with MM had a FDG-PET/CT scan in a 30-month period. Follow-up was available on 44/46 (96%) patients. Metastatic disease was detected in 9/46 (20%) patients on FDG-PET/CT, where 8/9 were previously undetected. Better survival was found in patients without metastases (p value