Minimal-Activity 18F-FDG PET/CT as a Potential Problem-Solving Tool in a Patient with Suspected Lung Cancer Recurrence

A 74-year-old woman with a history of non-small cell lung cancer underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT to rule out recurrence of the disease. The whole-body scan revealed a nodule in the left upper lobe of the lung that could not be unequivocally distinguished as either malignant or inflammatory. A segmental minimal activity (MA) PET/CT was performed for clarification, as it offers additional metabolic information without significantly increasing radiation exposure. Based on the MA-PET/CT scan and clinical findings, the nodule was classified as inflammatory. To the best of our knowledge, the use of MA-PET/CT in cases of suspected lung cancer recurrence has rarely been reported so far.