Advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx: efficacy of positron emission tomography and computed tomography for determining primary tumor response during induction chemotherapy.

Background: To evaluate the efficacy of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose emission tomography (FDG-PET) and CT versus endoscopy with biopsy under general anesthesia for estimating tumor volume reduction among patients treated with induction chemotherapy for advanced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oropharynx.

Methods: Twelve patients with oropharyngeal SCC nested in a phase II, induction chemoradiation, organ preservation trial (University of Michigan Cancer Center 9921) underwent tumor volume reduction estimation as assessed by FDG-PET, CT, and endoscopy with biopsy.

Results: In 9 of 12 patients, FDG-PET, CT, and endoscopy demonstrated agreement in estimation of tumor reduction.