Application of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in the diagnosis of abnormal lymph nodes
10.13491/j.issn.1004-714X.2026.02.014
- VernacularTitle:18F-FDG PET/CT在异常淋巴结诊断中的应用效果
- Author:
Bin QIU
1
;
Kejing SHAO
2
;
Jun CHEN
3
Author Information
1. Department of General Surgery, Wuxi People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214023, China.
2. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214023, China.
3. Department of Ultrasonic Medicine, Wuxi People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214023, China.
- Publication Type:OriginalArticles
- Keywords:
18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography;
Abnormal lymph node;
Benign and malignant differentiation;
Diagnosis;
Prognostic evaluation
- From:
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health
2026;35(2):246-250
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To explore the efficacy of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) in distinguishing the properties of abnormal lymph nodes and its role in assessing the prognosis of patients with related diseases, and to provide more precise evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment regimen formulation. Methods The clinical data of 97 patients with malignant tumors diagnosed with abnormal lymph nodes at Wuxi People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University between April 2024 and June 2025 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into a malignant lymph node group (n=47) and a benign lymph node group (n=50) based on pathological results. PET/CT metabolic parameters [maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG)] were compared between the two groups of patients. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the diagnostic value of 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters for abnormal lymph nodes. Progression-free survival was compared among patients in the malignant lymph node group stratified by different levels of SUVmax, SUVmean, MTV, and TLG. Results SUVmax, SUVmean, MTV, and TLG were significantly higher in the malignant lymph node group than in the benign lymph node group (P < 0.05). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for predicting malignant lymph nodes with SUVmax, SUVmean, MTV, and TLG were 0.761, 0.855, 0.860, and 0.792, with sensitivities of 74.47%, 82.98%, 74.47%, and 70.21%, and specificities of 76.00%, 76.00%, 90.00%, and 82.00%, respectively (P < 0.05). Comparison of progression-free survival in patients with malignant lymph nodes with different 18F-FDG PET/CT parameter levels revealed that patients with lower levels of SUVmax, SUVmean, MTV, and TLG had significantly longer progression-free survival than those with higher levels (Log-rank χ2=4.297, P=0.038; Log-rank χ2=6.569, P=0.010; Log-rank χ2=5.970, P=0.015; and Log-rank χ2=7.422, P=0.006, respectively). Conclusion 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters (SUVmax, SUVmean, MTV, and TLG) demonstrate high efficacy in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant abnormal lymph nodes and prognostic evaluation, providing significant guidance for clinical treatment decisions.
