Comparison of PET-CT, CT and MRI scan in initial staging and management of head and neck cancers
Abstract
Background: To evaluate the utility of positron-emission tomography (FDG PET) in initial staging and management of head and neck cancers.
Methods: This is a retrospective study of 99 treatment naïve head and neck cancer patients treated between January 2017 and December 2020 at a tertiary teaching centre. Change in initial staging and management was noted based on PET scan compared to cross-sectional imaging (CT and MRI).
Results: There were 73 (73.7%) males and 26 (26.2%) females with male-to-female ratio of 2.8:1.Overall, change in management was seen in 36/99 (36.4%) patients due to PET scan. With regards to initial staging, T, N and M stage was changed in 14/99 (14.1%), 19/99 (19.1%) and 3/99 (3%) patients, respectively. These changes were significantly higher in patients with unknown primary (63.3%, p value -0.001) and N3 (41%, p -0.045) nodal disease.
Conclusion: PET-CT plays an important role in appropriate initial staging and subsequent treatment planning of head and neck cancers.
Advances in knowledge: Initial staging PETCT changes management in 36.4% cases. Accuracy of various different imaging modalities have been compared.
Citations
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Date
2021-09-21
Type
Article
Subject
CT/MRI, Head and neck cancers, Management, PET scan, Staging
Collections
Citation
Ahmad, S., Mair, M., Haris, P. A., Haider, A., Baker, A., Conboy, P., Walter, H., Raj, L., Wright, S., Vaidhyanath, R., & Thiagarajan, S. (2022). Comparison of PET-CT, CT and MRI scan in initial staging and management of head and neck cancers. European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 279(5), 2651–2656. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-021-07087-8