[Is coincidence detection emission tomography (CDET) as reliable as positron emission tomography (PET) in head and neck cancer?].
OBJECTIVE
Positron emission tomography (PET) is becoming more and more useful in head and neck tumour detection, guiding diagnostic and therapeutic decision. However, techniques, similar to PET, but using modified conventional tomography equipment, are used. The most commonly used is the dual-head positron emission tomography using coincidence detection (CDET). This study was aimed at searching if CDET could be as reliable as PET in some of its indications.


METHODS
Between 1997 and 2001, 19 patients, with head and neck cancer, had a CDET, for 3 indications. We studied retrospectively sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) rates for these 3 indications.


RESULTS
1 degree) Detection of unknown primary head and neck cancers with lymph node manifestation: Se = 100%, Sp = 66,7%. 2 degrees) Detection of body metastasis: Se = 50%, Sp = 33%. 3 degrees) Detection of local recurrent cancer: Se = 100%, Sp = 25%.


CONCLUSIONS
CDET seems to be useful in finding unknown primary cancers with lymph node manifestation but is not reliable to look for metastasis and local recurrences. It cannot be used in all indications for PET. If no other tool is available, this investigation can be used, keeping in mind its limitations.
Lazard
D S
DS
Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Service ORL et Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale, Paris, France. dianelazard@yahoo.fr
Baujat
B
B
Barry
B
B
Le Guludec
D
D
Gehanno
P
P
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18