OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to calculate a useful cut-off point of the 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography SUVMax value to decide on a computed tomography-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy for solitary pulmonary nodules of sizes between 11 and 20 mm.

METHODS

Between January 2015 and April 2020, patients with solitary pulmonary nodules who underwent computed tomography-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy were retrospectively reviewed, and those with solitary pulmonary nodules of 11-20 mm in diameter, who had undergone an 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography examination before computed tomography-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy, were included in the study. A total of 76 patients who met the inclusion criteria were evaluated.

RESULTS

There was no distinguishing finding on the computed tomography examination (p>0.05). The SUVMax values of the malignant solid solitary pulmonary nodules were higher than the benign solitary pulmonary nodules (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The benign and malignant solid solitary pulmonary nodules between 11 and 20 mm have similar computed tomography features. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography is a useful imaging technique for distinguishing benign and malignant solitary pulmonary nodules. Notably, 4.85 SUVMax value can be used to decide on a computed tomography-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy procedure in solid solitary pulmonary nodules between 11 and 20 mm with excellent sensitivity and moderate specificity rates.