Pilot study: volatile organic compounds as a diagnostic marker for head and neck tumors.
BACKGROUND
In the last decade, the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOC) has undergone a rapid development. In this pilot study, patients with HNSCC were tested with a proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry in order to establish a minimal invasive screening method.


METHODS
Overall in a period of 2 years, 22 carcinoma patients were recruited for the study. All patients had a newly diagnosed histologically secured squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract. These results were statistically compared with 3 control groups: healthy controls, high-risk, and posttherapy patients.


RESULTS
Two hundred nine different masses were measured; 188 of these were evaluated. The statistical workup of the 4 study groups produced 42 different masses, which showed a statistically significant difference from the carcinoma group compared with the control groups.


CONCLUSIONS
A screening method for HNSCC using VOC seems to be possible, but further investigation is necessary.
Schmutzhard
Joachim
J
Department of Otolaryngology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria. joachim.schmutzhard@i-med.ac.at
Rieder
Josef
J
Deibl
Martina
M
Schwentner
Ilona M
IM
Schmid
Stefan
S
Lirk
Philip
P
Abraham
Irene
I
Gunkel
Andreas R
AR
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000378:metabolism*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014835:Volatilization
D015415:Biomarkers; D009930:Organic Chemicals