ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 2-[fluorine-18]fluro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) for detecting nonsquamous tumors of the extracranial head and neck (NSTHN). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of all patients with suspected or proven NSTHN undergoing PET imaging in our institution over a 12-year period were reviewed. Forty-four patients (24 males and 20 females; age range, 6-81 years; mean age, 51.2 years) were classified into 3 main groups: thyroid tumors (n = 19), salivary gland tumors (n = 7), and miscellaneous lesions (n = 18). The PET findings for each individual group with respect to the primary site, cervical nodal and distant metastases, were correlated with histopathology or follow-up (2-year minimum) RESULTS: The overall diagnostic accuracy of FDG-PET for all NSTHN was 86%, However, the diagnostic accuracy varied for the histologic subtype (thyroid, salivary, miscellaneous) and the area being evaluated (primary site, nodal metastases, distant metastases). CONCLUSION: There is variable diagnostic accuracy of FDG-PET in detecting different histologic subtypes of NSTHN. This information should be taken into consideration when considering PET for evaluation of NSTHN.
Subject(s)
Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 , Head and Neck Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Tomography, Emission-Computed , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Carcinoma, Medullary/diagnostic imaging , Carcinoma, Papillary/diagnostic imaging , Child , Female , Humans , Lymphatic Metastasis/diagnostic imaging , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Metastasis/diagnostic imaging , Salivary Gland Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Thyroid Neoplasms/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
With the advent of the Clinical Positron Imaging journal, a new vehicle has been created to facilitate the dissemination of information relevant to the clinical positron imaging community. In addition to providing technical, scientific, and medical information, this journal will also be used to address financial, regulatory, and legislative issues in clinical positron imaging. Since this is the journal of the Institute for Clinical PET (ICP), all of its members will receive it as an added service of ICP.
