FDG-PET scan in local follow-up of irradiated head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.
We performed a prospective study to assess the value of positron emission tomography (PET) with 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) in the prediction of local control in irradiated head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). Forty-two patients with irradiated HNSCCs underwent 49 FDG-PET scans between 3 and 6 months after the end of radiotherapy. The mean follow-up time after the first FDG-PET scan was 17 months. The result of the FDG-PET scan was true-positive in 6 patients, false-positive in 7 patients, and true-negative in 29 patients. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of FDG-PET scanning were 100%, 81%, 46%, and 100%, respectively. We conclude that FDG-PET scanning is useful for prediction of therapy outcome in irradiated HNSCCs. No biopsy is needed for at least 1 year if an FDG-PET scan is negative. If the scan is positive and the biopsy is negative, decreased FDG uptake measured in a follow-up scan indicates that a local recurrence is unlikely.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hôpital du Val-de-Grâce, Paris, France.
Claude
C
Conessa
Stephane
S
Hervé
Herve
H
Foehrenbach
Jean-Luc
JL
Poncet
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18