title: Accuracy of 18F-FDG-PET/CT for staging of oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study prospectively assessed 2-[F18]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET)/CT (PET/CT) in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three patients completed preoperative TNM staging (CT, MR, whole-body fusion imaging PET/CT). In patients who underwent surgical therapy (19 of 23), TNM staging based on PET/CT scan was compared with pTNM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PET/CT correctly staged 16 of 19 primary tumors (accuracy 84.2%, sensitivity 84.2%, positive predictive value 100%) and correctly ruled out bone invasion in 3 patients with false-positive results according to CT and/or MR. PET/CT incorrectly identified neck involvement in 5 of 15 patients (3 false positives, 2 false negatives) who underwent neck dissection (accuracy 66.7%, specificity 76.9%, negative predictive value 83.3%). False-negative cases showed a nodal size not exceeding 10 mm. One patient with a bronchial synchronous primary tumor was identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PET/CT scan showed good accuracy in determining the extension and/or depth of invasion of the primary tumor. Nevertheless, PET/CT was not accurate to rule out nodal metastases.
authors.affiliation: Oral Medicine and Oral Oncology Section, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. monica.pentenero@unito.it
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pentenero
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cistaro
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brusa
authors.forename: Maria Maddalena
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ferraris
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pezzuto
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carnino
authors.forename: Edro
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Colombini
authors.forename: Maria Consuelo
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Valentini
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giovanella
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spriano
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gandolfo