Accuracy of 18F-FDG-PET/CT for staging of oral squamous cell carcinoma

✍ Scribed by Monica Pentenero; Angela Cistaro; Mario Brusa; Maria Maddalena Ferraris; Carla Pezzuto; Riccardo Carnino; Edro Colombini; Maria Consuelo Valentini; Luca Giovanella; Giuseppe Spriano; Sergio Gandolfo

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2008
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 276 KB
• Volume: 30
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1043-3074
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.20906

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Background.

This study prospectively assessed 2‐[F18]‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose–positron emission tomography (18F‐FDG‐PET)/CT (PET/CT) in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods.

Twenty‐three patients completed preoperative TNM staging (CT, MR, whole‐body fusion imaging PET/CT). In patients who underwent surgical therapy (19 of 23), TNM staging based on PET/CT scan was compared with pTNM.

Results.

PET/CT correctly staged 16 of 19 primary tumors (accuracy 84.2%, sensitivity 84.2%, positive predictive value 100%) and correctly ruled out bone invasion in 3 patients with false‐positive results according to CT and/or MR. PET/CT incorrectly identified neck involvement in 5 of 15 patients (3 false positives, 2 false negatives) who underwent neck dissection (accuracy 66.7%, specificity 76.9%, negative predictive value 83.3%). False‐negative cases showed a nodal size not exceeding 10 mm. One patient with a bronchial synchronous primary tumor was identified.

Conclusion.

PET/CT scan showed good accuracy in determining the extension and/or depth of invasion of the primary tumor. Nevertheless, PET/CT was not accurate to rule out nodal metastases. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2008