The aim of our study was to investigate the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT for detection of distant metastases from malignant epitelial head and neck cancer.
Methods
We analized 205 patients who underwent PET/CT in our clinic for pretreatment staging, restaging between 2015-2017. Patients with positive findings of PET/CT underwent further imaging or biopsy.
Results
Of the 205 patients and 308 PET/CT exams (166 men and 39 women), 18 had distant metastases. There was 1 false positive result, 186 true negative and no false negative results. PET/CT had a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 99.4%, PPV of 94.7%, NPV of 100% and accuracy of 99.5%.
Conclusion
PET/CT is a useful screening imaging tool for detection of distant metastases in patients with malignant epitelial head and neck cancer.
Ferlito A, Shaha AR, Silver CE, Rinaldo A, Mondin V. Incidence and sites of distant metastases from head and neck cancer. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec. 2001;63:202-207. https://doi.org/10.1159/000055740
Troell RJ, Terris DJ. Detection of metastases from head and neck cancers. Laryngoscope. 1995 Mar;105(3 Pt 1):247-50. https://doi.org/10.1288/00005537-199503000-00005
Kotwall C, Sako K, Razack MS, Rao U, Bakamjian V, Shedd DP. Metastatic patterns in squamous cell cancer of the head and neck. Am J Surg. 1987;154:439-442. https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9610(89)90020-2
S.Y. Kim, J.-L. Roh, N.-K. Yeo, J.S. Kim, J.H. Lee, S.-H. Choi, S.Y. Nam. Combined 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography and computed tomography as a primary screening method for detecting second primary cancers and distant metastases in patients with head and neck cancer. Journal Article published Oct 2007 in Annals of Oncology volume 18 issue 10 on pages 1698 to 1703 https://doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mdm270
Deurvorst SE, Hoekstra OS, Castelijns JA, Witte BI, Leemans CR, de Bree R. Clinical value of 18 FDG PET/CT in screening for distant metastases in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Clin Otolaryngol. 2018 Jun;43(3):875-881 https://doi.org/10.1111/coa.13074
Mohamed El-Khodary, Reda Tabashy, Walid Omar, Amr Mousa, Ahmed Mostafa. The role of PET/CT in the management of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Journal Article published Jun 2011 in The Egyptian Journal of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine volume 42 issue 2 on pages 157 to 167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrnm.2011.05.006
NCCN, v.l. 2015. Available at: www.nccn.org
