Accuracy of (18) FDG PET-CT for treatment evaluation 3 months after completion of chemoradiotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: 2-year minimum follow-up.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of (18) F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18) FDG PET)-CT in detecting residual or recurrent disease after nonsurgical treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, hypopharynx, or cervical lymph node location of SCC treated with chemoradiotherapy. Twelve weeks posttreatment, (18) FDG PET-CT results were compared to histology if residual disease was suspected. Patients with complete response received a minimum of 24-month follow-up.

Results: Forty-seven patients were included with 40 months of median follow-up: 46 with a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) at the primary site and 43 in the neck. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were 86.7%, 90%, 76.5%, and 93.1%, respectively, at the primary site and 100%, 97.2%, 87.5%, 100%, respectively, in the neck.

Conclusion: (18) FDG PET-CT seems effective in detecting residual disease and in predicting recurrent disease within the first 2 years of follow-up after nonsurgical treatment. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1271-E1276, 2016.