Does fluorodeoxyglucose PET add to the management of the neck following curative radiotherapy in head and neck cancer compared with computed tomography?. Issue 3 (March 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Porceddu, Sandro V; Adams, Gerard; Gundelach, Raefe; Pryor, David I
• Is Part Of: Expert review of anticancer therapy. Volume 13:Issue 3(2013)
• Page Start: 279
• Page End: 284
• Publication Date: 2013-03
• Subjects: head and neck cancer -- neck dissection -- neck management -- PET -- radiotherapy -- restaging -- surgery; Cancer -- Treatment -- Periodicals; 616.99406
• DOI: 10.1586/era.13.10
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1473-7140

Abstract

In recent times, metabolic response to chemoradiotherapy has become possible due to the clinical application of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET. Its utility in the initial staging of head and neck cancer is becoming widely accepted, however, its role in the post-therapy management of the neck following chemoradiotherapy in node-positive head and neck cancer remains unresolved. This article examines the role of PET in the restaging of patients who achieve a complete response at the primary site following radiotherapy. In particular, the authors examine its potential use in the assessment of post-therapy residual nodes and its role in sparing patients from an unnecessary neck dissection in order to minimize treatment-related morbidity.