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18 F ‐ FDG PET ‐ CT as a supplement to CT / MRI for detection of nodal metastasis in hypopharyngeal SCC with palpably negative neck
Author(s) -
Lee HoJoon,
Kim Jinna,
Woo Ha Young,
Kang Won Jun,
Lee JaeHoon,
Koh Yoon Woo
Publication year - 2015
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.25136
Subject(s) - medicine , radiology , magnetic resonance imaging , positron emission tomography , nuclear medicine , neck dissection , metastasis , pet ct , carcinoma , cancer , pathology
Objectives/Hypothesis To determine the diagnostic value of 18 F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography‐computed tomography (PET‐CT) compared with CT or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for the detection of nodal metastasis in patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with palpably negative neck and to assess the role of PET‐CT as a supplement to CT/MR. Study Design Retrospective analysis. Methods A total of 39 patients with palpably negative neck (36 men and 3 women; average age 65.4 years) underwent tumor resection and neck dissection as primary treatment. All patients were preoperatively evaluated with PET‐CT and CT and/or MR, and imaging data were retrospectively reviewed. The diagnostic performance of PET‐CT, CT/MR, and a combination of PET‐CT and CT/MR was assessed using histopathologic results as a gold standard. Results Twenty (51.3%) of the 39 patients were found to have neck metastases. On a level‐based analysis, the sensitivity of PET‐CT, CT/MR, and combined interpretation of PET‐CT and CT/MR was 65.7%, 57.1%, and 65.7%, respectively, but without statistical significance. Of the six patients who showed false negative neck findings based on CT/MR in addition to palpation, four cases were still missed with additional PET‐CT. Conclusions The addition of PET‐CT examination to anatomic imaging involving CT and MR did not provide additional benefit for the preoperative evaluation of cervical nodal metastasis in patients with hypopharyngeal SCC with nonpalpable neck, yielding insufficient data to spare elective neck dissection. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope , 125:1607–1612, 2015