Utility and limitations of metabolic parameters in head and neck cancer: finding a practical segmentation method.

Purpose: Although metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) have shown good prognostic value in head and neck cancer (HNC), there are still many issues to resolve before their potential application in standard clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to compare the discrimination ability of two relevant segmentation methods in HNC and to evaluate the potential benefit of adding lymph nodes' metabolism (LNM) to the measurements.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a recently published database of 62 patients with HNC treated with chemoradiotherapy.

Adding value to tumor staging in head and neck cancer: The role of metabolic parameters as prognostic factors.

Background: Validated biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are scarce.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 62 patients with HNSCC treated with radiotherapy +/- concurrent chemotherapy. Pretreatment metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were measured in a F-FDG positron emission tomography using a liver dependent standardized uptake value threshold.

Metabolic tumor volume and total lesion glycolysis as prognostic factors in head and neck cancer: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

The role of metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) in head and neck cancer (HNC) prognosis is not well established. We conducted a systematic review focusing on MTV and TLG measured by F-FDG positron-emission tomography in HNC. Meta-analyses were developed, estimating hazard ratios (HRs) for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).