title: Detection of unknown primary head and neck tumors by positron emission tomography.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of using positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-labeled fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) to detect unknown primary tumors of cervical metastases. Thirteen patients with various histologic types of cervical metastases of unknown primary origin were studied. Patients received 185-370 MBq FDG intravenously and were scanned from 30 min after injection onward. Whole-body scans were made with a Siemens ECAT 951/31 PET camera. PET identified the primary tumor in four patients: plasmocytoma, squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, and bronchial carcinoma, respectively. All known metastatic tumor sites were visualized. PET did not identify a primary tumor in one patient in whom a squamous cell carcinoma at the base of the tongue was found in a later phase. In the remaining eight patients, a primary lesion was never found. The follow up ranged from 18 to 30 months. A previously unknown primary tumor can be identified with FDG-PET in approximately 30% of patients with cervical metastases. PET can reveal useful information that results in more appropriate treatment, and it can be of value in guiding endoscopic biopsies for histologic diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Groningen University Hospital, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Braams
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pruim
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Kole
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Nikkels
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vaalburg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vermey
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Roodenburg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010954:Plasmacytoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000379:methods*