The role of functional imaging in lung cancer

Over the past decade, functional imaging by means of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET/CT) has improved tumor staging and treatment planning leading to somewhat higher survival rates, in particular in NSCLC patients. This review focuses on the recent insight gained and at current challenges encountered while pursuing improved outcome in patients suffering from NSCLC or SCLC. © 2018, Italian Association of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.