title: [PET scanning in head and neck cancer]
abstract: INTRODUCTION: FDG (fluorine-labeled deoxy-glucose) and 11C-methionine positron emission tomography was evaluated in the diagnostics of head and neck cancer. PET scans were applied for identifying/staging relapse after oncotherapy or searching unknown primary tumor with metastatic lymph nodes of the neck. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 22 patients examined by 17 (18)FDG and 15 (11)C-methionine PET scan. In 9 cases indication was unknown primary tumor with positive neck, in 13 cases previously treated head and neck cancer patients were examined for recurrence/restaging. RESULTS: In searching for unknown primary tumor not detectable with conventional methods, PET was effective in 22%, however, false positivity and uncertain results were found as well. In restaging PET proved to be very effective (85%) to discover recurrences and to differentiate them from post-treatment (mainly irradiation) effects. In two cases silent distant metastase were detected. CONCLUSION: PET can provide valuable information about unknown primary tumors, recurrences after oncotherapy and distant metastases as well. Simultaneous use of FDG/methionine scans does not improve the results.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, H-1122, Hungary. jtimar@oncol.hu
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Udvaros
authors.forename: Sz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Szakáll
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oberna
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pólus
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Esik
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Trón
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kásler
vernacular_title: Pozitronemissziós tomográfia a fej-nyaki tumorok diagnosztikájában.