Increased evidence for the prognostic value of primary tumor asphericity in pretherapeutic FDG PET for risk stratification in patients with head and neck cancer.

Purpose: In a previous study, we demonstrated the first evidence that the asphericity (ASP) of pretherapeutic FDG uptake in the primary tumor provides independent prognostic information in patients with head and neck cancer. The aim of this work was to confirm these results in an independent patient group examined at a different site.

Methods: FDG-PET/CT was performed in 37 patients.

Photoisomerizable and thermoresponsive N-isopropylacrylamide-surfmer copolymer hydrogels prepared upon electrostatic self-assembly of an azobenzene bolaamphiphile.

Photoreactive and thermoresponsive N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM)-surfmer copolymer hydrogels containing 4,4'-di(6-sulfato-hexyloxy)azobenzene (DSHA) dianions are described. The functional hydrogels are obtained in a two steps. First a micellar aqueous solution of (11-(acryloyloxy)undecyl)trimethylammonium bromide (AUTMAB) and NIPAM is exposed to (60) Co-gamma irradiation, and a thermoresponsive copolymer gel is obtained.

Early FDG PET at 10 or 20 Gy under chemoradiotherapy is prognostic for locoregional control and overall survival in patients with head and neck cancer.

Purpose: Our study aimed to explore the optimal timing as well as the most appropriate prognostic parameter of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) during chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for an early prediction of outcome for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Methods: Serial PET data (before and three times during CRT) of 37 patients with advanced stage HNSCC, receiving combined CRT between 2005 and 2009, were evaluated. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUV(max)), the average SUV (SUV(mean)) and the gross tumour volume determined by FDG PET (GTV PET), based on a source to background algorithm, were analysed.

Serial FDG-PET on patients with head and neck cancer: implications for radiation therapy.

Purpose: To assess possible consequences for radiotherapy (RT) planning, e.g., reduction of treatment volume by a decreased tumour volume in Fluor-18-fluoro-deoxy-glucose-Positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) based on a close-meshed evaluation of FDG uptake in primary head and neck cancer (HNC) during RT.