PET Imaging in Small Cell Lung Cancer

Patient Population

Patients with SCLC.

Intended Guideline Users

To guide the Ontario PET Steering Committee in their decision making concerning indications for the use of PET imaging. This recommendation report may also be useful in informing clinical decision making regarding the appropriate role of PET imaging and in guiding priorities for future PET imaging research.

Research Question(s)

1. What benefit to clinical management does positron emission tomography (PET) or positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) contribute to the diagnosis or staging of small cell lung cancer (SCLC)?
2. What benefit to clinical management does PET or PET/CT contribute to the assessment of treatment response for SCLC?
3. What benefit to clinical management does PET or PET/CT contribute when recurrence of SCLC is suspected but not proven?
4. What benefit to clinical management does PET or PET/CT contribute to restaging at the time of documented recurrence for SCLC?
5. What is the role of PET when a solitary metastasis is identified at the time of recurrence and a metastectomy is being contemplated?