18F‐FDG‐PET/CT for the Assessment of the Contralateral Neck in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

4.

The value of preoperative 18F‐FDG PET/CT for the assessing contralateral neck in head and neck cancer patients with unilateral node metastasis (N1‐3)

“…These values are similar to those for the ipsilateral side. However, we were able to show a difference between the positive predictive value for the ipsilateral side (90%) and that for the contralateral side (66%), which is in line with other reports . Kim et al .…”

“…However, we were able to show a difference between the positive predictive value for the ipsilateral side (90%) and that for the contralateral side (66%), which is in line with other reports. 13,15 Kim et al 15 on comparing the metabolic findings with the histological workup of neck dissection found 18 F-FDG PET/CT to be less sensitive in detecting contralateral neck metastases than ipsilateral neck metastases due to the lower incidence of metastases and smaller nodes on the contralateral side.…”

“…The sensitivity of 18 F‐FDG PET/CT in detecting cervical lymph node metastases in HNSCC ranged from 67% to 96%, and its specificity ranged from 82% to 100% . Recent reports have suggested that there could be a difference in the accuracy of 18 F‐FDG PET/CT in staging nodal metastasis in the ipsilateral versus the contralateral neck . Lots of attention has been devoted to the ipsilateral neck in HNSCC, but little is known about the risk of contralateral neck nodal involvement and the usefulness of 18 F‐FDG PET/CT, particularly in terms of survival in patients with ipsilateral neck disease.…”

18F FDG PET/CT versus CT/MR Imaging and the Prognostic Value of Contralateral Neck Metastases in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

“…Therefore, the use of FDG PET/CT or PET/CT may improve cancer staging accuracy and alter the clinical management of cervical nodal or distant metastases in patients with HNSCC (13,14). Recent studies have reported that FDG PET/CT has reliable diagnostic value for depicting CNM from HN-SCC compared with conventional CT/ MR imaging (15)(16)(17). Studies from our institution showed that FDG PET/CT is superior to CT/MR imaging for depicting metastatic lymph nodes in the ipsilateral and contralateral neck (15).…”

PET/CT for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer—Uses and Updates for Radiologists

“…However, in studies that focus on the ipsilateral and contralateral cervical nodes, the performance of PET is lower for contralateral nodes. Kim et al [9] compared PET/CT with MR or CT for [10]. Both studies concluded that PET/CT could not be used to avoid contralateral neck surgery or radiotherapy for high-risk patients.…”