Prognostic Value of FDG-PET in patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of 2-deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro-D-glucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) following concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) on survival in patients with carcinoma of the oropharynx (OPC).


METHODS
Eighteen patients with primary OPC who underwent PET pre- and post-CRT were evaluated prospectively for survival. The prognostic performance of post-CRT PET and CT for recurrence was compared.


RESULTS
Patients with positive post-CRT PET exhibited significantly lower 2-year cause-specific survival and disease-free survival (50% vs. 91%, P < 0.05 and 0% vs. 83%, P < 0.0001); however, patients with positive post-CRT CT did not exhibit any significant difference (67% vs. 83%, P = 0.416 and 50% vs. 75%, P = 0.070). Other factors, such as clinical and pre-CRT PET variables, also did not indicate any significant difference. The accuracy of prediction of residual and local recurrence for post-CRT PET and CT (local%/regional%) was 83%/94% and 83%/78%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
OPC patients with positive post-CRT PET exhibit poor survival. The prognostic accuracy of post-CRT PET is superior to that of CT. The results of post-CRT FDG-PET should be included in the management of the OPC patients.
Department of Otolaryngology, Osaka University School of Medicine, 2-2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan. keisuke.enomoto@tracer.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Keisuke
K
Enomoto
Hidenori
H
Inohara
Ichiro
I
Higuchi
Kenichiro
K
Hamada
Yoichiro
Y
Tomiyama
Takeshi
T
Kubo
Jun
J
Hatazawa
D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D016019:Survival Analysis; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D043823:Taxoids; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D000077143:Docetaxel; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil