18FDG SUV in the primary tumor and lymph node metastases is not predictive for development of distant metastases in high risk head and neck cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
Pretreatment screening on distant metastases is particularly useful in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients with high risk factors.


METHODS
In a retrospective study of 88 patients with previously identified clinical high risk factors the predictive value of standardized uptake value (SUV) of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in the primary tumor and in the lymph node metastases for the development of distant metastases was examined. Different SUVs corrected for plasma glucose levels and body mass index were calculated and analysed in different patient groups: all patients (n=88), patients with a follow up >6months (n=73), not previously treated patients (n=51) and not previously treated patients with a follow up >6months (n=40).


RESULTS
Twenty-four of the 88 (27%) high risk HNSCC patients were diagnosed with distant metastases during screening and follow up. No correlation was found between different SUVs of the primary tumor and lymph nodes metastases and the development of distant metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
SUVs of primary tumor and lymph node on FDG-PET are not predictive for distant metastases in a (selected) group of patients with already high risk factors for distant metastases.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Jasmijn
J
Meeuwis
Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Otto S
OS
Hoekstra
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Birgit I
BI
Witte
Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Ronald
R
Boellaard
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
C René
CR
Leemans
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Head and Neck Surgery, UMCU Utrecht Cancer Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: r.bree@vumc.nl.
Remco
R
de Bree
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D001786:Blood Glucose; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
18F-fluorodeoxyglucose; Distant metastases; Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; Standardized uptake value