Carbon-11-methionine uptake in squamous cell head and neck cancer.
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether uptake of L-methyl-[11C]-methionine in a tumor is related to the survival of patients with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck.


METHODS
Thirty-nine patients (median age 64 yr) with newly diagnosed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck entered a PET study with [11C]-methionine before therapy. Tumor [11C]-methionine uptake was measured as standardized uptake values (SUVs), and the PET results were compared with the clinical follow-up data of the patients.


RESULTS
All except one of the malignant lesions within the field of view were visible by [11C]-methionine PET. The median tumor SUV was 9.0 (range 4.0-18.8). The median follow-up time for patients still alive is currently 44 mo (range 14-66 mo). No difference in survival was found between patients with tumor SUV equal to or larger than the median and those with tumor SUV smaller than the median.


CONCLUSIONS
Carbon-11-methionine PET imaging is effective in squamous cell head and neck cancer. The amount of [11C]-methionine uptake does not predict the clinical outcome.
Department of Oncology, Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Finland.
P
P
Lindholm
S
S
Leskinen
M
M
Lapela
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C086242:carbon-11 methionine; D008715:Methionine