Lung Tumor Imaging by Positron Emission Tomography Using C-11 L-Methionine

Abstract

This paper described the first clinical study of lung tumor scanning by positron emission tomography (PET) using C-11-labeled L-methionine (¹¹C-L-Met). Tumor images were clearly visualized by high contrast in eight lung cancer patients and also in a patient with a silicotic nodule. Quantitative evaluations of methionine uptake in tumor tissue and normal tissue by comparing differential uptake ratios suggested that the extent to which ¹¹C-L-Met accumulates in a tumor is closely correlated to the tumor's viability such as benign or malignant, viable or necrotic. ¹¹C-L-Met is considered to be an effective tumor marker for PET diagnosis which represents increased amino acid metabolism of tumors in the mediastinum and lung.