The role of positron emission tomography in the evaluation of the N-positive neck.

Background: A major prognostic indicator in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract is the presence or absence of cervical metastasis. Nodal involvement at different levels affects treatment. Thus identification of the degree of nodal involvement is important.

Positron emission tomography in the evaluation of synchronous lung lesions in patients with untreated head and neck cancer.

Background: Positron emission tomography (PET) with the glucose analogue fludeoxyglucose F 18 uses the increased glucose uptake that is observed in neoplastic cells. It can differentiate between benign and malignant pulmonary lesions in patients with lung tumors. Applications of PET in extracranial head and neck neoplasms have included evaluating patients with unknown primary lesions, detecting primary and recurrent head and neck tumors, monitoring response to radiotherapy, and evaluating the N0 neck in oral cavity carcinomas.