Value of [18F]FDG PET/CT for predicting epidermal growth factor receptor gene mutation status in patients with newly diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer: a retrospective single center study

Purpose of the study. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of [18F]FDG PET/CT for predicting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation status in patients with newly diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients and methods. This retrospective single center study included 63 patients with NSCLC who underwent [18F]FDG PET/ CT and were divided into the mutant (n = 30) and wild-type groups (n = 33) based on EGFR mutation status. Maximal diameter (Dmax) and anatomical volume of each primary tumor lesion were measured, [18F]FDG uptake was analyzed by measurement of SUVmax, SUVpeak, MTV, TLG and TLR. TLG was measured using PET segmentation method by 3D-Isocontour tool with 41 % of SUVmax threshold (TLG41 %) and threshold adapted to the anatomical volume (TLGCT). Acquisition data of NEMA IEC Body Phantom Set NU2–2018 was applied for plotting the recovery coefficients curves that used for following partial volume effect correction (without correction – PVE, after correction – cPVE). Results. Medians of lesions’ metrics in the mutant and wild-type groups were, respectively: Dmax – 3 [2.5; 4] and 3.6 [2.5; 4.4] cm, p > 0.05; anatomical volume – 7 [5.2; 14.7] and 12.1 [4.6; 24.4] ml, p > 0.05; PVE SUVmax – 6.6 [3.6; 9.3] and 8.5 [6.4; 10], p > 0.05; cPVE SUVmax – 5.7 [3.2; 7.6] and 6.8 [5.4; 8.1], p > 0.05; PVE SUVpeak – 5.7 [2.8; 7.6] and 6.6 [5.2; 8.8], p > 0.05; cPVE SUVpeak – 5.2 [3; 6.8] and 6.7 [4.7; 7.7], p > 0.05; PVE MTV41 % – 5.4 [3.3; 10.4] and 9 [3.6; 16.2], p > 0.05; cPVE MTV41 % – 5.2 [3.3; 10.1] and 6.2 [3.6; 11.7], p > 0.05; PVE TLG41 % – 21.5 [9.2; 37.8] and 36.9 [10.2; 78], p > 0.05; cPVE TLG41 % – 28.9 [16; 46.4] and 24.9 [12.9; 66.4], p > 0.05; PVE TLGCT – 27.8 [11.5; 52.1] and 54.7 [14.4; 123], p > 0.05; cPVE TLGCT – 31 [14.7; 51.7] and 35.8 [16.2; 82.6], p > 0.05; PVE TLR – 3 [2; 5.2] and 4 [3; 5.3], p > 0.05; cPVE TLR – 3 [2.1; 4.5] and 3.6 [2.7; 5], p > 0.05. Conclusion. Our results suggest that [18F]FDG PET/CT has no significant value for predicting the EGFR gene mutation status in patients with newly diagnosed NSCLC.