The Maximum Standardized Uptake Values on Integrated FDG-PET/CT Is Useful in Differentiating Benign From Malignant Pulmonary Nodules

Although integrated FDG-PET/CT is a valuable study for an indeterminate pulmonary nodule, one must be aware of causes of false positives and negatives. There is a 24% chance a suspicious nodule that has a maxSUV of 0 to 2.5 is cancer. The higher the maxSUV of the primary mass the more likely the nodes are to be involved with either malignancy or infection, and this may help direct nodal biopsy instead of pulmonary resection.