title: Evaluation of 18F-FDG PET/CT as a diagnostic imaging and staging tool for feline oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (18FDG-PET/CT) has been shown to be effective for staging human oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) but its application for cats with oral SCC is unknown. Twelve cats with biopsy-proven oral SCC were imaged with whole body 18FDG-PET/CT to determine its value as a diagnostic imaging and staging tool and fine needle aspirates were obtained of accessible regional lymph nodes. All tumors were FDG avid and conspicuous on 18FDG-PET/CT images, with an average of the maximum standardized uptake value 9.88 ± 5.33 SD (range 2.9-24.9). Soft tissue infiltrative tumors that were subtle and ill defined on CT were highly visible and more extensive on FDG-PET/CT. Tumors invading the osseous structures were more similar in extent on 18FDG-PET/CT and CT although they were more conspicuous on PET images. Three cytologically confirmed metastases were hypermetabolic on PET, while two of those metastases were equivocal on CT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Randall
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kraft
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: LaRue
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000662:veterinary*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
keywords: PET/CT; feline; fluorodeoxyglucose; oral; squamous cell carcinoma