Open AccessPitfall of Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography in assessing Metastasis in a Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer
Author(s) -
Jai Prakash Agarwal,
Poonam Joshi,
Shubhada Kane
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
international journal of head and neck surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 0976-0539
pISSN - 0975-7899
DOI - 10.5005/jp-journals-10001-1210
Subject(s) - medicine , positron emission tomography , metastasis , head and neck cancer , radiology , distant metastasis , cancer , positron emission , computed tomography , lung cancer , standardized uptake value , head and neck , oncology , surgery , radiation therapy
Advanced and recurrent head and neck cancers often present with distant metastasis. The most common sites include lung, liver and bones. The propensity for metastasis depends upon the site of the primary disease as well. Cancers of hypopharynx and nasopharynx both have high propensity for distant meta stasis. Positron emission tomographycomputed tomography is done in many of these situations to assess distant metastasis, especially in locally advanced and recurrent cases. The positive predictive value of PET-CT in predicting distant metastasis in recurrent head and neck cancers is 60%. This low positive predictive value is attributed to inflammation, infections, and post RT changes. The present case report highlights that PET positive lesions should be interpreted with caution as they can be false positive and can be mistaken for metastasis and, hence, a potentially curative patient can be treated as one with palliative intent. How to cite this article Joshi P, Chaturvedi P, Agarwal JP, Kane S. Pitfall of Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography in assessing Metastasis in a Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer. Int J Head Neck Surg 2015;6(1):14-16.