OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical effect of an early follow-up positron emission tomography (PET) examination at the time of the first routine clinical control in patients with advanced-stage head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). DESIGN: Prospective, nonrandomized, case-control study. SETTING: Single referral center. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION: A total of 26 patients (mean age, 56 years) with histologically confirmed stage III-IV HNSCC underwent PET before and approximately 6 weeks after the end of a combined treatment with radiation and chemotherapy with curative intent. The PET findings were confirmed by histologic analysis and a 6-month clinical follow-up. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The presence of distant metastases, secondary synchronous cancers, and residual locoregional tissue was confirmed, and the effect on further clinical management was assessed. RESULTS: Using PET, we correctly identified residual tumor tissue, distant metastases, or a second primary tumor in 10 patients, 5 of whom had no clinical evidence of such findings. Results were true negative in 14 cases; false positive in 1; and false negative in 1. Sensitivity and specificity for follow-up PET scans were 90.9% and 93.3%, respectively. All patients with positive findings were evaluated for further treatment such as salvage surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Whole-body PET scanning approximately 6 weeks after completion of a combined treatment regimen with radiation and chemotherapy can reliably identify locoregional residual cancer and distant metastases or secondary tumors in patients with advanced-stage HNSCC and has a direct influence on management decisions.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical effect of an early follow-up positron emission tomography (PET) examination at the time of the first routine clinical control in patients with advanced-stage head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). DESIGN: Prospective, nonrandomized, case-control study. SETTING: Single referral center. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION: A total of 26 patients (mean age, 56 years) with histologically confirmed stage III-IV HNSCC underwent PET before and approximately 6 weeks after the end of a combined treatment with radiation and chemotherapy with curative intent. The PET findings were confirmed by histologic analysis and a 6-month clinical follow-up. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The presence of distant metastases, secondary synchronous cancers, and residual locoregional tissue was confirmed, and the effect on further clinical management was assessed. RESULTS: Using PET, we correctly identified residual tumor tissue, distant metastases, or a second primary tumor in 10 patients, 5 of whom had no clinical evidence of such findings. Results were true negative in 14 cases; false positive in 1; and false negative in 1. Sensitivity and specificity for follow-up PET scans were 90.9% and 93.3%, respectively. All patients with positive findings were evaluated for further treatment such as salvage surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Whole-body PET scanning approximately 6 weeks after completion of a combined treatment regimen with radiation and chemotherapy can reliably identify locoregional residual cancer and distant metastases or secondary tumors in patients with advanced-stage HNSCC and has a direct influence on management decisions.
Authors: Gianpiero Manca; Eleonora Vanzi; Domenico Rubello; Francesco Giammarile; Gaia Grassetto; Ka Kit Wong; Alan C Perkins; Patrick M Colletti; Duccio Volterrani Journal: Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging Date: 2016-01-19 Impact factor: 9.236
Authors: Bhupesh Parashar; A Gabriella Wernicke; Samuel Rice; Joseph Osborne; Prabhsimranjot Singh; Dattatreyudu Nori; Shankar Vallabhajosula; Stanley Goldsmith; K S Clifford Chao Journal: Discov Med Date: 2012-07 Impact factor: 2.970
Authors: M McDermott; M Hughes; T Rath; J T Johnson; D E Heron; G J Kubicek; S W Kim; R L Ferris; U Duvvuri; J P Ohr; B F Branstetter Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2013-05-02 Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: L van der Putten; O S Hoekstra; R de Bree; D J Kuik; E F I Comans; J A Langendijk; C R Leemans Journal: Mol Imaging Biol Date: 2008-07-12 Impact factor: 3.488