Solitary Pulmonary Nodules and PET

According to the American College of Chest Surgeons:
"In patients with low-to-moderate pretest probability of malignancy (5%-60%) and an indeterminate solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) that measures at least 8 to 10 mm in diameter, we recommend that fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) imaging should be performed to characterize the nodule.

"In patients with an SPN that has a high pretest probability of malignancy (> 60%), or patients with a subcentimeter nodule that measures < 8 to 10 mm in diameter, we suggest that FDG-PET not be performed to characterize the nodule."

References

Alberts WM; American College of Chest Physicians. Diagnosis and management of lung cancer executive summary: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (2nd Edition). Chest. 2007 Sep;132(3 Suppl):1S-19S.