Lymph node detection of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas by positron emission tomography with fluorodeoxyglucose F 18 in a routine clinical setting.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Accurate determination of lymph node involvement is a prerequisite for individualized therapy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region. In a previous study, we showed that positron emission tomography (PET) with fluorodeoxyglucose F 18 with and without attenuation correction is superior to magnetic resonance imaging for this purpose in a scientific setting.

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a shortened PET protocol (acquisition time, 20 minutes) in a routine clinical setting.

DESIGN:

The results of static, nonattenuation-corrected PET performed on patients in 2 bed positions starting 40 minutes after the intravenous injection of 370 MBq of fluorodeoxyglucose F 18 and the results of morphologic procedures (computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) were compared prospectively in 70 patients for lymph node staging. Postoperative pathologic findings served as a criterion standard.

SETTING:

An academic medical center.

RESULTS:

The diagnostic accuracy of PET for detecting "neck sides" with malignant involvement was superior to morphologic procedures, with a sensitivity and specificity of 87% and 94%, respectively, compared with computed tomographic values of 65% and 47% and magnetic resonance imaging values of 88% and 41%, respectively.

CONCLUSION:

A short PET protocol that is suitable for routine clinical use is superior to morphologic procedures (computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) for the detection of lymph node involvement in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

• Authors: R J Kau, C Alexiou, C Laubenbacher, M Werner, M Schwaiger, W Arnold
• Journal: Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery (Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg) Vol. 125 Issue 12 Pg. 1322-8 (Dec 1999) ISSN: 0886-4470 [Print] United States
• PMID: 10604409 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18

Topics

• Academic Medical Centers
• Adult
• Aged
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (pathology, surgery)
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Female
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
• Head and Neck Neoplasms (pathology, surgery)
• Humans
• Lymph Node Excision
• Lymph Nodes (diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neck (diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Tomography, Emission-Computed (methods)
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed