Positron emission tomography: a promising diagnostic modality for head and neck pathology.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to discuss the advantages of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in the diagnosis of head and neck lesions.


METHODS
To illustrate this diagnostic method, we describe the nuclear medicine basic technique, present 5 cases for comparison of the results between computed tomography (CT) scan and PET, and review the literature.


RESULTS
The 5 cases show that PET allows assessment of lesions earlier and more definitively than other diagnostic images.


CONCLUSIONS
PET, a nuclear medicine modality, is a promising tool for diagnosis and follow-up of head and neck lesions. PET allows assessment of changes in the tissue before they would be shown by other diagnostic images. This modality permits differentiation between malignant and benign tumors. It also has the capability to distinguish between scar tissue, necrosis, tumor recurrence, and metastatic disease. It allows the assessment of the patient's progress during therapy, making possible an early identification of nonresponders to therapy.
Tamara
Luis
L
Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Velez
Ines
I
Tamara
Claudia
C
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed