Abstract
Limited PET/CT– A New Concept in Follow-up of Head and Neck Cancer Patients
Highlights
Fluorine-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) Positron emission tomography/Computed tomographic (PET/CT) imaging is used to identify metabolically active primary and metastatic cancers
The diaphragm distant metastasis was not seen in the absence of lung metastasis
Limited PET/CT from top of the head to the waist level may be sufficient in follow up of early stage head and neck cancer patients in the absence of pulmonary, lymph node or bony metastasis in the chest on initial staging scan due to the unlikely possibility of missing distant below the diaphragm metastasis
Summary
Fluorine-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) Positron emission tomography/Computed tomographic (PET/CT) imaging is used to identify metabolically active primary and metastatic cancers. In head and neck cancers distant metastasis to lung is most common followed by bone and liver. Head and neck cancers comprise 5% of all malignancies [1]. The incidence of distant metastasis in head and neck cancer is relatively small compared to other malignancies, but once discovered their long term survival is poor [2]. Some head and neck cancers are seen with advanced stage disease at initial presentation. Lung is the most frequent site of distant metastasis (66%) in squamous cell cancer (SCC) of head and neck; other sites are bone 22%, and liver 10%. Majority of distant metastasis occur within the first 2 years of initial diagnosis [4] and is usually associated with poorly differentiated cancers
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Journal of Molecular Medicine and Clinical Applications
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
