Lung cancer patients may not need to wait until their radiation treatment is over to know if it worked according to a new study. A PET scan several weeks after starting radiation for lung cancer can indicate whether the tumor will respond to treatment, according to researchers the University of Michigan.
PET, positron emission tomography, has been used after radiation treatment to assess response. However, researchers found that PET could be used only a few week into treatment, with a strong correlation between tumor response a few weeks in and three months after treatment completion.
This could allow doctors to change plans midway through treatment and improve outcomes.
