Does positron emission tomography (PET) improve our ability to detect residual neck node (NN) disease in patients with squamous cell head and neck cancer (SCHNC) after definitive chemoradiotherapy?

Abstract

5526 Background: Management of the neck in patients undergoing non-operative treatment for SCHNC is controversial. This study details our experience using the neck exam, computerized tomography (CT), and PET to clinically evaluate patients for residual NN disease after definitive chemoradiotherapy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients with SCHNC with NN involvement at presentation, who were treated with definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy using fluorouracil and cisplatin. Clinical restaging by neck exam, CT, and PET was accomplished 8–12 weeks after completion of treatment. Residual palpable nodes on exam, residual nodes larger than 1 centimeter, or with central necrosis on CT, or any residual hypermetabolic lymph nodes on PET were considered to be clinical evidence of residual NN disease. Persistent NN disease was confirmed only if pathologic involvement was identified at the time of neck dissection, or if regional recurrence developed. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy (Acc) were calculated for all three clinical assessment tools. Results: The study included 43 patients with 64 positive necks at diagnosis, followed for a median of 11.5 (range 3.9–43.3) months. All but two patients are alive. Planned neck dissection was performed in 26 necks after chemoradiotherapy, and was positive in four. Recurrent primary site or NN disease prompted a delayed neck dissection in eight necks, which was positive in three. The utility of these clinical assessment tools and combinations thereof are detailed in the table . Conclusions: Residual NN disease after definitive chemoradiotherapy was infrequent and not well predicted by PET. A positive PET in this setting is of little utility. Although a negative PET was highly predictive for control of neck disease after chemoradiotherapy, it added little to the clinical neck exam and the CT. [Table: see text] No significant financial relationships to disclose.