Introduction We aimed to evaluate case reports and research articles subjected the usage of positron emission tomography (PET) or PET combined with computed tomography (PET-CT) in pneumoconiosis patients.

Methods ‘Pubmed’ and ‘Web of Science’ databases were queried with keywords of ‘pneumoconiosis and PET’ and 47 records were reached. Inclusion criteria were language (English or Turkish), publication date before 15th April, 2017, article type (case reports, case series and research articles), subject as usage of PET or PET-CT in management of pneumoconiosis cases. Articles not meeting at least one criteria were excluded. After those criteria applied 6 case reports, 5 case series, and one research article were evaluated.

Result Article contents were categorised according to purpose of PET or PET-CT (investigation of malignancy or differential diagnosis of benign pathology) and contribution of PET or PET-CT in the management (compatible with final diagnosis, compatible with final staging, or false positive). For 6 case reports, purpose was malignancy investigation in 5 (3 with false positive results and 2 with results supporting final diagnosis), and differential diagnosis of benign pathology in one report (with results supporting final diagnosis). Purpose was malignancy investigation in all case series (3 reports with false positive results, one report with results compatible with final diagnosis, and one report with results compatible with final staging) with number of cases 3–42. The research article aimed to investigate pulmonary nodules with both 11C-methionine-(MET)-PET and fluorine-18-(F-18)-fluorodeoxyglucose(FDG)-PET in 26 patients and revealed more increased uptake values in malignant nodules compared to pneumoconiotic nodules.

Discussion Despite results revealing benefits of PET or PET-CT in management of pneumoconiosis cases, their application should be carefully evaluated due to false positive results. Future researches in detection of cut-off uptake values between benign pneumoconiotic nodules and malignant lesions may be useful.