J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg.  2009 Aug;35(4):213-220.

Usefulness of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the evaluation of cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with oral cancer

• Yu MG
• Ryu SY

Abstract

PURPOSE
The present study was aimed to examine the usefulness of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the evaluation of cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with oral cancer.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twenty-two patients who underwent neck dissection to treat oral cancer were subjected for examination. The cervical node metastasis was evaluated by means of clinical examination, CT scan, PET, and histologic examination. By comparing the results of each examination modality with those of histologic examination, it's sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were determined.
RESULTS
The oral cancer was more frequent in males with a ratio of 2.14:1. The sixth decade showed the highest incidence in age distribution with mean of 56+/-16. Histologic findings showed that squamous cell carcinoma was the most common (15 patients), and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (3), malignant melanoma (2), and adenoid cystic carcinoma and ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma (1 each), in order. In most cases, wide surgical excision of the primary cancer and neck dissection was performed, followed by reconstruction with free flaps when necessary. When comparing the results of each examination modality with those of the histologic examination, clinical examination showed sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value at 11%, 85%, 33%, and 58%, respectively. CT scans showed at 67%, 77%, 67%, and 77%, while 18F-FDG PET/CT at 78%, 77%, 70%, and 83%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that PET is more useful, compared with clinical examination and CT scans, in the evaluation of cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with oral cancer.

Keyword

18F-FDG PET/CT; Cervical lymph node metastasis; Oral cancer

MeSH Terms

Age Distribution
Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic
Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
Free Tissue Flaps
Humans
Incidence
Lymph Nodes
Male
Melanoma
Mouth Neoplasms
Neck Dissection
Neoplasm Metastasis
Positron-Emission Tomography
Sensitivity and Specificity
Fluorodeoxyglucose F18