18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography is correlated with the pathological necrosis and decreased microvessel density in lung adenocarcinomas

Objective We explored the relationship between preoperative 18 F-FDG-PET parameters, tumor necrosis, and microvessel density (MVD) in patients with pulmonary adenocarcinomas. Methods A total of 164 patients, who underwent surgical resection for lung adenocarcinoma, were reviewed retrospectively. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max ), peak SUV corrected for lean body mass (SUL peak ), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) values were measured by preoperative 18 F-FDG-PET. The extent of tumor necrosis was examined and CD31 expression was evaluated to count the MVD. Results The SUV max , SUL peak , MTV, and TLG levels were significantly lower in patients exhibiting no necrosis compared to those with necrosis. When we divided the patients into two groups based on high vs. low PET parameter values, elevated SUV max , SUL peak , MTV, and TLG values were significantly more associated with partial or diffuse necrosis than were lower values ( p