title: Prognostic significance and predictive performance of volume-based parameters of F-18 FDG PET/CT in squamous cell head and neck cancers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It has been previously reported that metabolic tumor volume on positron emission tomography-computed tomography predicts disease recurrence and death in head-and-neck cancer. In this study, we assessed the prognostic value of metabolic tumor volume measured using F18-Fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the imaging findings of 74 patients (age 57±16) retrospectively, with head and neck cancer who underwent PET/CT scan for staging and after treatment. Forty-tree patients had nasopharynx, 15 patients had hypopharynx, 9 patients had larynx, and 7 patients had oropharynx cancer. The MTVs of primary sites with or without lymph nodes were measured, and outcomes were assessed using the treatment response evaluation by the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors and recurrence events during follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 48 patients had complete response or no recurrence was detected as of in the last follow-up. Of the first PET/CT scan, the median primary tumor SUVmax was 18.8 and the median nodal SUVmax was 13.4. The median primary tumor MTV% 50s ranged from 11.12 cm3 to 16.28 cm3, and the MTV after the therapy ranged from 1.18 cm3 to 3.51 cm3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metabolic tumor volume (MTV) represents tumor burden, which shows F18-Fluorodeoxyglucose uptake and has a potential value in predicting short-term outcome and disease-free survival in patients with head and neck cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sait
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sager
authors.forename: Sertaç
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asa
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Lebriz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Uslu
authors.forename: Betul
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vatankulu
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Halaç
authors.forename: Kerim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sönmezoglu
authors.forename: Bedii
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kanmaz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve; D012008:Recurrence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18