The role of FDG-PET/CT imaging in head and neck malignant conditions: impact on diagnostic accuracy and patient care.

Abstract

To assess the value of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in patients with head and neck carcinoma as compared with PET and conventional imaging alone, and to assess the impact of PET/CT on further clinical management. Prospective nonrandomized study. Ninety patients with head and neck tumors had 107 PET/CT examinations. The study analysis showed that PET/CT had a sensitivity of 89%, specificity 95%, PPV 94%, NPV 90%, and accuracy of 92%. PET/CT altered management in 51 patients (56%). PET/CT eliminated the need for previously planned diagnostic procedures in 24 patients, induced a change in the planned therapeutic approach in 21 patients and guided biopsy in 6 patients. PET/CT is an imaging modality with high diagnostic performance in the assessment of head and neck cancer, and induced a change in further clinical management in more than half of the study population.