Evaluation of the Role of PET/CT in Detecting Bone Metastases in Lung Cancer Patients at K Tan Trieu Hospital

Abstract

Objective: Evaluation of the role of PET/CT in detecting bone metastasis in lung cancer patients.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 72 lung cancer patients who underwent PET/CT scans at K Tan Trieu Hospital from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025.
Results: Among the patients, 54.2% presented with multiple bone lesions (two or more), while 45.8% had a single bone lesion. A total of 172 bone metastatic lesions were detected, all of which exhibited increased 18F-FDG uptake on PET/CT scans. The spine was the most frequently involved site (97.2%), followed by the ribs and sternum (44.4%) as well as the pelvic and sacral regions (44.4%). Less commonly affected areas included the skull (6.9%) and clavicle (2.8%). The mean SUVmax of bone lesions was 12.86 ± 8.32, with values ranging from 3.4 to 57.8.
Conclusion: PET/CT is a highly effective imaging modality for detecting bone metastases in patients with lung cancer. It provides comprehensive information regarding the number, anatomical distribution,
and metabolic characteristics of metastatic lesions.