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Title: |
Is There a Need for Positron Emission Tomography Imaging to Stage the N0 Neck in T1-T2 Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity or Oropharynx? | ||||||||||||||||||
| Authors: | Ursula Schroeder, MD; Markus Dietlein, MD; Claus Wittekindt, MD; Monika Ortmann, MD; Hartmut Stuetzer, MD; Julia Vent, MD; Markus Jungehuelsing, MD; Barbara Krug, MD | ||||||||||||||||||
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Objectives: We assess whether negative findings on computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),
and/or 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18FDG-PET) may contribute to the decision-making process
of elective neck dissection (eND) in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity or the oropharynx
(oSCC) staged cT1-T2 cN0 cM0.
Methods: We interpreted CT, MRI, and 18FDG-PET images separately, after combining the data of CT with those of 18FDG-PET and the data of MRI with those of 18FDG-PET. Each set of results was then compared with the histopathologic results of ipsilateral or bilateral eND in a prospective, blinded study. Results: The histopathologic examination of 594 lymph nodes revealed 4 metastases less than 4 mm in diameter and 3 micrometastases (less than 2 mm) in 6 of 17 patients. On CT, MRI, and 18FDG-PET, respectively, 5, 5, and 0 cases were true-malignant (true positives) and 4, 10, and 1 cases were false-malignant (false positives). The accuracy was not enhanced by fusing CT with 18FDG-PET or MRI with 18FDG-PET. Conclusions: The detectability threshold of occult metastases appears to be below the spatial and contrast resolution of CT, MRI, and 18FDG-PET. The decision for eND in patients with cT1-T2 cN0 cM0 oSCC cannot be based upon crosssectional imaging at the resolutions currently available. (Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2008;117:854-863.) |
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| Keywords: | elective neck dissection, fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, imaging, occult metastasis | ||||||||||||||||||
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