Abstract: Objective To assess the value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of solitary nodular-type bronchoalveolar
carcinoma (BAC). Methods The clinical and radiographic data were analyzed retrospectively in 30 patients with pathologically
confirmed solitary nodular-type BAC who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT examinations between August, 2005 and December,
2006. The morphological and radioactive findings of the lesions were reviewed, and the maximum standard uptake values
(SUVmax) were measured. The diagnostic accuracy of PET, PET/CT, and HRCT were analyzed. Results The 18F-FDG SUV was
markedly lower in BAC than in other well differentiated adenocarcinoma. In 19 of the BAC cases, PET showed a SUVmax of
no less than 2.5, demonstrating positive changes. Of the total of 30 cases, 5 had ground glass opacity (GGO) changes, 3
exhibited mixed nodules with GGO changes around the lesions, and 22 cases presented with solid nodules. HRCT showed that
BAC located often in the superior lobes of the bilateral lungs, mostly below the pleura in the surrounding lung field; the
lesions were patchy or nodular with irregular shapes, showing lobulation in 22 cases, spiculation in 15 cases, pleural
indentation in 21 cases, and vacuolar changes in 4 cases. The diagnostic accuracy of PET, PET/CT and HRCT for solitary
nodular-type BAC was 36.67%, 93.33%, and 93.33%, respectively. Conclusion The SUVmax of BAC provides only limited value
for defining the nature of the lesions, but can serve as a general reference for assessing the disease activity. PET/CT, which
allows both functional and imaging assessment, can be a valuable modality to reduce the misdiagnosis rate of BAC.