NODAL SPREAD OF SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE ORAL CAVITY DETECTED WITH PET-TYROSINE, MRI AND CT

The uptake of L-1-[C-11]-tyrosine (TYR) in cervical lymph nodes of ele ven patients with squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity was studied with PET to detect lymphogenic metastases. Methods: The TYR-P ET results were compared with clinical, MRI, CT, histopathologic findi ngs and historical data of patients studied with FDG. Sensitivity, spe cificity, accuracy and the positive and negative predictive values wer e calculated. Results: TYR-PET had sensitivity of 83% and a specificit y of 95%, In contrast, the sensitivity and specificity for MRI were 33 % and 96%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for CT were 5 5% and 91%, respectively, TYR-PET results compared favorably with FDG. Conclusion: With NR-PET, SCC metastases of the oral cavity can be vis ualized with high sensitivity and specificity, TYR-PET can be an addit ional tool for further evaluation of neck malignancies.