J Nucl Med 1995 Feb;36(2):211-6
Detection of lymph node metastases of squamous-cell cancer of the head and
neck with FDG-PET and MRI.
Braams JW, Pruim J, Freling NJ, Nikkels PG, Roodenburg JL, Boering G, Vaalburg
W, Vermey A.
The uptake of 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) in neck lymph nodes of
twelve patients with a squamous-cell carcinoma of the oral cavity was studied
with PET in order to detect and locate lymphogenic metastases. METHODS: The
results of FDG-PET imaging were compared with clinical, MRI and histopathologic
findings. Standardized uptake values (SUV) were also calculated. RESULTS: A
sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 88% were calculated for FDG-PET. In
contrast, a sensitivity of 36% and a specificity of 94% were calculated for MRI.
Calculated SUVs for reactive lymph nodes, metastatic lymph nodes and the primary
tumor were undifferentiated. CONCLUSION: Using FDG-PET, lymph node metastases of
squamous-cell carcinomas of the oral cavity can be visualized with a high
sensitivity and specificity. FDG-PET can be an improvement in the evaluation of
the neck.
