[Systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy of 18F-FDG PET in suspected recurrent head and neck cancer].
OBJECTIVE
A meta-analysis of the literature was performed in this article in order to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 18F-FDG PET in suspected recurrent head and neck cancer.


METHODS
A systematic review of the literature was performed using 1987 to 2007 MEDLINE and CANCERLIT databases, applying selection criteria to the studies found. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, and odds ratio were calculated. The diagnostic accuracy was evaluated with ROC (receive-operating-characteristics) curves.


RESULTS
Nineteen articles were included in the meta-analysis. Sensitivity of 18F-FDG PET was 94 %, specificity 80 %, and the summary ROC curve showed a good trade-off between sensitivity and specificity.


CONCLUSIONS
18F-FDG PET was useful in patients with suspected recurrence of head and neck cancer, showing a high sensitivity and intermediate-high specificity.
Pasamontes Pingarrón
Juan Antonio
JA
Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital de Móstoles, Madrid, España. maria.jantonio@tiscali.es
Cabrera Martín
María Nieves
MN
Delgado Bolton
Roberto Carlos
RC
Fernández Pérez
Cristina
C
Carreras Delgado
José Luis
JL
Scola Yurrita
Bartolomé
B
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18