THE USE OF POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY FOR EARLY DETECTION OF RECURRENT HEAD AND NECK SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA IN POSTRADIOTHERAPY PATIENTS

Positron emission tomography (PET) has recently proved to be highly se nsitive in detecting known extracranial head and neck squamous cell ca rcinomas when compared to computed tomography and magnetic resonance i maging (MRI). The ability of PET to detect early subclinical recurrent squamous cell malignancies in patients who received primary radiother apy was evaluated. A new PET-MRI coregistration technique was used to determine precise anatomic tumor location, enabling directed biopsies to confirm the presence of malignancy, and to plan additional therapeu tic strategies, Ten patients underwent PET evaluation with intravenous [F-18]-fluorodeoxyglucose and received postradiotherapy MRI scans. In all cases, PET accurately detected the presence of recurrent disease despite negative or equivocal MRI scans and indeterminate clinical exa minations. PET appears to be highly effective in detecting early recur rent head and neck squamous cell malignancies in postirradiated patien ts.