FDG PET and PET/CT for the detection of the primary tumour in patients with cervical non-squamous cell carcinoma metastasis of an unknown primary.

In patients with a neck metastasis from an unknown primary with non-squamous cell cancer (non-SCC) histology, the primary is often located outside the head and neck area. We retrospectively evaluated 326 patient records and found 14 patients with non-SCC neck lymph node metastasis from an unknown primary undergoing whole body F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) with or without coregistered computed tomography (PET/CT). The PET or PET/CT findings were verified by pathological work-up, additional imaging tests, and clinical follow-up.

HIF at the crossroads between ischemia and carcinogenesis.

Tissue hypoxia occurs where there is an imbalance between oxygen supply and consumption in both, solid tumors as a result of exponential cellular proliferation and in atherosclerotic diseases as a result of inefficient blood supply. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is central in normal angiogenesis and cancer angiogenesis. HIF-1 is a transcriptional activator composed of an O(2)- and growth factor-regulated HIF-1alpha subunit and a constitutively expressed HIF-1beta subunit.