Prospective comparative study of integrated positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan compared with remediastinoscopy in the assessment of residual ediastinal lymph node disease after induction chemotherapy for mediastinoscopy-proven stage IIIA-N2 nonsmall-cell lung cancer : a Leuven Lung Cancer Group Study

De Leyn, Paul; Stroobants, Sigrid; De Wever, Walter; et al.

doi:10.1200/JCO.2006.05.6341

Title

Prospective comparative study of integrated positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan compared with remediastinoscopy in the assessment of residual ediastinal lymph node disease after induction chemotherapy for mediastinoscopy-proven stage IIIA-N2 nonsmall-cell lung cancer : a Leuven Lung Cancer Group Study

Author

De Leyn, Paul

Stroobants, Sigrid

De Wever, Walter

et al.

Abstract

Purpose Mediastinal restaging after induction therapy for nonsmall-cell lung cancer remains a difficult and controversial issue. The goal of this prospective study was to compare the performance of integrated positron emission tomography (PET) computed tomography (CT) and remediastinoscopy in the evaluation of mediastinal lymph node metastasis after induction chemotherapy. Patients and Methods Thirty consecutive stage IIIA-N2 nonsmall-cell lung cancer patients surgically treated at our institution were entered onto this prospective study. N2 disease was proven by cervical mediastinoscopy, at which a mean number of 3.8 lymph node levels were biopsied. After completion of induction chemotherapy, the mediastinum was reassessed by integrated PET-CT and remediastinoscopy. All patients underwent thoracotomy with attempted complete resection and systematic nodal dissection. Results PET-CT showed no evidence of nodal disease (N0) in 13 patients, Hilar nodal disease (N1) disease in three patients, and residual mediastinal disease (N2) in 14 patients. Remediastinoscopy was positive in only five patients. The preinduction involved lymph node level could be accurately re-evaluated in 18 patients. This was not the case in the other 12 because of extensive fibrosis and adhesions. In 17 patients, persistent N2 disease was found at thoracotomy. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of PET-CT were 77%, 92%, and 83%, respectively. These parameters for remediastinoscopy were 29%, 100%, and 60%, respectively. Sensitivity (P < .0001) and accuracy (P = .012) were significantly better for PET-CT. Conclusion After a thorough staging mediastinoscopy, postinduction remediastinoscopy had a disappointing sensitivity because of adhesions and fibrosis. Integrated PET-CT yielded a better result than that obtained in previous studies with side-by-side PET and CT images.

Language

English

Source (journal)

Journal of clinical oncology. - New York

Publication

New York : 2006

ISSN

0732-183X

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2006.05.6341

Volume/pages

24 :21 (2006) , p. 3333-3339