title: Matched cohort analysis of the effect of pretreatment positron emission tomography on clinical outcomes of patients with head and neck cancer treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pretreatment positron emission tomography (PET) has been shown to be useful for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) after definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT).
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective analysis of a matched cohort of 116 patients with HNSCC that underwent CRT treatment at our institution. Pretreatment PET was performed in 58 patients and omitted in the other 58 patients. The 2 cohorts were matched for T classification, N classification, primary site, and smoking history. Kaplan-Meier 2-year estimates of local control (LC), regional control (RC), freedom from distant metastasis (FFDM), cause-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS) were compared with log-rank tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences between the 2 cohorts for 2-year endpoints of LC, RC, FFDM, CSS, and OS. On multivariate analysis pretreatment PET imaging did not influence any endpoint.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PET imaging before definitive CRT may not significantly improve outcomes in patients with HNSCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, UNC Hospitals, NC Clinical Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fried
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khandani
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shores
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weissler
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hackman
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosenman
authors.forename: Bhishamjit S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Chera
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18