A Head and Neck Radiologist’s Perspective on Best Practices for the Usage of PET/CT Scans for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Head and Neck Cancers

Abstract

Cancer of the head and neck accounts for 3% of all the malignant diseases within the United States; however, there is an estimated societal cost of $3.1 billion spent annually for treatment. These neoplasms can be much more debilitating than other carcinomas, especially with the involvement of exposed physical attributes. Most head and neck cancer is secondary to squamous cell carcinoma. There are over 40 000 new head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cancers reported each year in the United States. Multiple available imaging modalities play