Utility of positron emission tomography/computed tomography for nodal staging of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
OBJECTIVE
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) behaves aggressively in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Lymphadenopathy due to CLL can obscure the clinical and radiological assessment of nodal involvement by cSCC. This study aimed to evaluate whether functional imaging with positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) may clarify the clinical picture.


METHODS
Five consecutive patients with cSCC and CLL who had a PET/CT scan for the purposes of cSCC staging between July 2000 and July 2010 were analyzed. PET/CT findings were compared to histopathology from subsequent neck dissection.


RESULTS
PET/CT can distinguish nodal cSCC from leukemic infiltration with high specificity, allowing prompt appropriate management of nodal disease.


CONCLUSIONS
PET/CT is a promising modality for nodal staging in patients with cSCC and CLL, with the potential to improve outcomes in this poor prognosis group. Larger confirmatory studies are needed.
Department of Radiation Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: jonathan.tomaszewski@petermac.org.
Jonathan M
JM
Tomaszewski
Eddie
E
Lau
June
J
Corry
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017254:Leukemic Infiltration / Q000175:diagnosis; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed