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PET‐CT Staging of the Neck in Cancers of the Oropharynx: Patterns of Regional and Retropharyngeal Nodal Metastasis
Author(s) -
Tauzin Marcie,
Rabalais Amy,
Hagan Joseph L.,
Wood Charles G.,
Ferris Robert L.,
Walvekar Rohan R
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.21650
Subject(s) - otorhinolaryngology , medicine , head and neck surgery , biostatistics , head and neck , general surgery , head and neck cancer , public health , cancer , surgery , pathology
Objective: To study the retropharyngeal lymph node status (RPLN) by pretreatment PET-CT imaging in patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the oropharynx (OPSCC). Study Design: Retrospective. Methods: 101 patients with a biopsy proven OPSCC were identified. 53 patients meeting inclusion criteria were further analyzed. Results: The frequency of RPLN was 20.8% (11/53). Advanced T stage cancer (OR = 5.6250, 95% CI: 1.06 29.80, p = 0.0410) and advanced clinical N stage cancer (i.e. N2+) had higher odds (OR = 3.9773, 95% CI: 0.9628 16.4291) of being RPLN positive as compared to N0-1 patients. Conclusions: Pre-treatment PET-CT can be used as a staging tool to aid in treatment planning of OPSCC, as rates of RPLN and nodal metastasis are consistent with those reported in the literature. Advanced T and N stage are associated with a greater odds ratio of being RPLN positive by PET-CT imaging.