Diagnosis is just the beginning of a long road for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Once their condition is confirmed they submit to a variety of tests that help their healthcare team identify the best treatment available, as well as to provide them with a realistic sense of how long they are likely to survive. Among the many modalities and lab tests used, PET/CT is increasingly valued for its accuracy in assessing prognosis.
How PET/CT is Used in Assessing Mesothelioma Tumors
PET, or Positron Emission Tomography, is a type of diagnostic scan that has consistently proven useful to physicians treating malignant mesothelioma patients. The high-tech process involves the patient having a mildly radioactive liquid injected into their body, then lying in a scanner that creates three-dimensional pictures that show areas where cells are more active than normal. PET can be combined with CT to create more detailed images.
The images that are yielded from PET scans reflect the levels of metabolic uptake in mesothelioma tumors, referred to as standardized uptake volume, or SUV, while the CT scan provides the measurements that reflect tumor volume.
Turkish Study Reveals Additional Value of PET/CT in Mesothelioma Patients
In addition to providing physicians with a roadmap for treatment of mesothelioma, a study published in the Turkish Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery revealed that they can provide highly accurate indications of patient survival. The study involved 65 patients ranging in age from 39 to 84 between 2008 and 2018 who had PET scans conducted. An analysis of the data showed that the information regarding SUV was particularly helpful.
While much of a mesothelioma patient’s outcome was determined by their age and the position of their tumor, the study also revealed that those with a standardized uptake volume of more than 9.8 had poorer prognoses than those with lower SUVs. According to the study’s author Bülent Mustafa Yenigün, “Metabolic parameters of [FDG PET/CT] have the potential to provide prognostic information for malignant pleural mesothelioma patients who are receiving surgery and/or chemotherapy.”
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma, it’s important that you receive the best treatment available to you. For help accessing these resources, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.
