title: FDG-PET in the clinically negative neck in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  With improved diagnostic imaging techniques, it remains difficult to reduce occult metastatic disease in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) to less than 20%. Therefore, supraomohyoid neck dissection (SOHND) still is a valuable staging procedure in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with clinically and ultrasonographically staged cN0 SCC of the oral cavity underwent FDG-PET before SOHND. Histologic examination of neck dissection specimens was used as a "gold standard."
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-eight consecutive patients were included, representing 30 necks. Occult metastatic disease was found in 30% of SOHND specimens. Average diameter of metastatic deposits was 4.3 mm. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of FDG-PET was 33%, 76%, and 63%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with cN0 SCC of the oral cavity, FDG-PET does not contribute to the preoperative workup. FDG-PET does not replace SOHND as a staging procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands. b.wensing@kno.umcn.nl
authors.forename: Bart M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Wensing
authors.forename: Wouter V
authors.initials: WV
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.forename: Henri A M
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Marres
authors.forename: Matthias A W
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Merkx
authors.forename: Ernst J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Postema
authors.forename: Wim J G
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Oyen
authors.forename: Frank J A
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: van den Hoogen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D009333:Neck; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18