18F-FDG uptake by primary tumor as a predictor of intratumoral lymphatic vessel invasion and lymph node involvement in non-small cell lung cancer: analysis of a multicenter study.

Abstract

Patients with a low to moderate (18)F-FDG uptake in the primary lesion had a significantly lower risk of concurrent intratumoral lymphatic vessel invasion and nodal involvement than did patients with a high (18)F-FDG uptake. In patients with non-small cell lung cancer, (18)F-FDG uptake by the primary tumor is a strong predictor of intratumoral lymphatic vessel invasion and lymph node metastasis.