Clinical Significance of Postradiotherapy [18F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography Imaging in Management of Head-and-Neck Cancer-A Long-Term Outcome Report

Min Yao, Russell B. Smith, Henry T. Hoffman, Gerry F. Funk, Minggen Lu, Yusuf Menda, Michael M. Graham, John M. Buatti

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

100 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the accuracy and prognostic significance of post-treatment [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma after radiotherapy (RT). Methods and Materials: This was a retrospective study of 188 patients with head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma who had undergone FDG-PET within 12 months after completing RT. All living patients had ≥1 year of follow-up after FDG-PET. All patients had undergone intensity-modulated RT, 128 with definitive and 60 with postoperative intensity-modulated RT. Results: For all patients, the median follow-up after RT completion was 32.6 months and after FDG-PET was 29.2 months. For the neck, 171 patients had negative FDG-PET findings. Of these results, two were falsely negative. Seventeen patients had positive FDG-PET findings, of which 12 were true-positive findings. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for FDG-PET in the assessment of the treatment response in the neck was 86%, 97%, 71%, and 99%, respectively. For the primary site, 151 patients had negative FDG-PET findings, of which two were falsely negative. Thirty-seven patients had positive FDG-PET findings, of which 12 were true-positive findings. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for FDG-PET in the assessment of the treatment response in the primary site was 86%, 86%, 32.4%, and 98.7%, respectively. Patients with positive post-RT PET findings had significantly worse 3-year overall survival and disease-free survival. Conclusion: The results of our study have shown that the findings of post-RT FDG-PET have a high negative predictive value and are a significant prognostic factor. It can provide guidance for the management of head-and-neck cancer after definitive treatment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)9-14
Number of pages6
JournalInternational Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics
Volume74
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2009

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Radiation
  • Oncology
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Cancer Research

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Clinical Significance of Postradiotherapy [18F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography Imaging in Management of Head-and-Neck Cancer-A Long-Term Outcome Report'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this