Optimal timing of first posttreatment FDG PET/CT in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
The optimal timing for the initial posttreatment fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT scan after definitive treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is unclear.



We conducted a retrospective review of 247 patients with definitively treated nonmetastatic HNSCC. First posttreatment PET/CT scans were grouped into: <7 weeks, 7 to 10 weeks, 11 to 14 weeks, and ≥15 weeks. Scans were categorized as positive or negative and accuracy of scans was calculated for each group using biopsy, subsequent imaging, or clinical follow-up for 1 year after treatment as a reference standard.



Sixty-seven of the 247 patients (27.1%) had treatment failure. Scans performed at <7 weeks were less accurate than all other time intervals (p < .05). Scans performed at all other intervals were similar in accuracy.



First posttreatment PET/CT can be obtained as early as 2 months after therapy. Scans performed earlier than 2 months have lower accuracy. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E853-E858, 2016.
Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.|Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington.
Alan S
AS
Leung
Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Tanya J
0000-0002-0359-7055
TJ
Rath
Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Marion A
MA
Hughes
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Seungwon
S
Kim
Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.|Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Barton F
BF
Branstetter
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072078:Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D017211:Treatment Failure; D055815:Young Adult
D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG); head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; positron emission tomography (PET)/CT; posttreatment; timing