Lymph node-to-primary tumor standardized uptake value ratio on PET predicts distant metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Objectives: To investigate the prognostic value of the relative maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) ratio between neck lymph node and primary tumor (NTR) measured by pretreatment F-FDG PET in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with non-disseminated NPC who underwent PET scans before radical intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to identify the optimal cut-off value for NTR.

Prognostic value of lymph node to primary tumor standardized uptake value ratio in unresectable esophageal cancer.

Background: Unresectable esophageal cancer harbors high mortality despite chemoradiotherapy. Better patient selection for more personalized management may result in better treatment outcomes. We presume the ratio of maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) of metastatic lymph nodes to primary tumor (NTR) in 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) may provide prognostic information and further stratification of these patients.