title: Does fluorodeoxyglucose PET add to the management of the neck following curative radiotherapy in head and neck cancer compared with computed tomography?
abstract: In recent times, metabolic response to chemoradiotherapy has become possible due to the clinical application of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET. Its utility in the initial staging of head and neck cancer is becoming widely accepted, however, its role in the post-therapy management of the neck following chemoradiotherapy in node-positive head and neck cancer remains unresolved. This article examines the role of PET in the restaging of patients who achieve a complete response at the primary site following radiotherapy. In particular, the authors examine its potential use in the assessment of post-therapy residual nodes and its role in sparing patients from an unnecessary neck dissection in order to minimize treatment-related morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. sandro_porceddu@health.qld.gov.au
authors.forename: Sandro V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Porceddu
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Raefe
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gundelach
authors.forename: David I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Pryor
mesh_terms: D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000379:methods; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18