PURPOSE To address the impact of positron emission tomography with [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose (PET-FDG) on the initial staging and management of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS This multicenter, prospective study included 233 patients with newly diagnosed and untreated HNSCC. TNM stage and therapeutic decision were first determined based on the conventional work-up (including physical examination, computed tomography [CT]/magnetic resonance imaging of the head and neck region, and thoracic CT) and sealed in envelope 1. Whole-body PET-FDG was then performed, and subsequent TNM stage and therapeutic decision were written in envelope 2. Changes in TNM stages and in patient management as a result of PET-FDG imaging were recorded. Clinical outcome and histopathology were used as gold standards to validate the TNM stage. Conventional and PET stages were compared using the McNemar test. Results Conventional and PET stage were discordant in 100 (43%) of 233 patients. PET proved to be accurate in 47 patients and inaccurate in 13 patients. TNM status was left unconfirmed in 40 patients because no therapeutic change was expected from the stage difference. Conventional + PET TNM classification (envelope 2) was significantly more accurate than conventional classification (envelope 1; P < .0001, McNemar test). PET-FDG altered the therapeutic plan in 32 (13.7%) of 233 patients. CONCLUSION Adding whole-body PET-FDG to the pretherapeutic conventional staging of HNSCC improved the TNM classification of the disease and altered the management of 13.7% of patients. These findings support the implementation of PET-FDG in the routine imaging work-up of HNSCC.

No abstract

Cysts and bursae of the nasopharynx are uncommon and seldom symptomatic when compared with malignant tumors of this region. However, it is noteworthy that in the presence of symptoms, a good knowledge of their radiological appearance is useful to establish the correct diagnosis. Cysts of Rathke's pouch, pharyngeal bursa of Luschka, Tornwaldt's cysts, retentional cysts of the seromucinous glands, oncocytic cysts, intra-adenoid cysts, branchial cysts, prevertebral or retropharyngeal abscess and pseudocysts of the nasopharynx will be discussed in this paper.

Retropharyngeal hematoma occurs rarely. It is located just in front of the cervical spine. Many circumstances can lead to its development. A trauma and/or anticoagulants are often key factors. The assessment must be made extremely carefully as such a hematoma can induce an airway compromise. Trauma being a key factor, it can also present with cervical spine fractures, increasing the risks. Two different cases of retropharyngeal hematomas are reported. The first case required surgical management with tracheotomy, per-oral drainage and naso-gastric tube feeding. A total recovery was obtained in 2 weeks. The second patient underwent medical treatment (methylprednisolone), and recovery was obtained in 6 days. Surgery for retropharyngeal hematoma is not always mandatory. It becomes necessary when a major dysphagia or dyspnea occurs. In other cases, medical treatment and close observation are usually sufficient.

No abstract