title: The role of FDG-PET/CT imaging in head and neck malignant conditions: impact on diagnostic accuracy and patient care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the value of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in patients with head and neck carcinoma as compared with PET and conventional imaging alone, and to assess the impact of PET/CT on further clinical management.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective nonrandomized study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety patients with head and neck tumors had 107 PET/CT examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study analysis showed that PET/CT had a sensitivity of 89%, specificity 95%, PPV 94%, NPV 90%, and accuracy of 92%. PET/CT altered management in 51 patients (56%). PET/CT eliminated the need for previously planned diagnostic procedures in 24 patients, induced a change in the planned therapeutic approach in 21 patients and guided biopsy in 6 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PET/CT is an imaging modality with high diagnostic performance in the assessment of head and neck cancer, and induced a change in further clinical management in more than half of the study population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel. ariegor@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Arie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gordin
authors.forename: Avishay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Golz
authors.forename: Zohar
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Keidar
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daitzchman
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bar-Shalom
authors.forename: Ora
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Israel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D051598:Whole Body Imaging
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18