Positron Emission Tomography in Relation to Noguchi’s Classification for Diagnosis of Peripheral Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer 2 cm or Less in Size

Background F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) scanning has become a critically important tool in diagnosis and management of non-small-cell lung cancer. However, the effectiveness of 18F-FDG-PET as a diagnostic tool for small-sized lung cancer is controversial. The purpose of this study was to examine the accuracy of 18F-FDG-PET in relation to Noguchi’s classification in the diagnosis of small peripheral non-small-cell lung cancer.