CT of the chest and abdomen in patients with newly diagnosed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

• Published in: Head & neck 2005-10, Vol.27 (10), p.909-915
• Main Authors: Keski-Säntti, Harri T., Markkola, Antti T. O., Mäkitie, Antti A., Bäck, Leif J. J., Atula, Timo S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abdominal Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Abdominal Neoplasms - secondary; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - diagnostic imaging; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - secondary; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - therapy; computed tomography; distant metastases; Female; head and neck; Head and Neck Neoplasms - pathology; Head and Neck Neoplasms - therapy; Humans; Lung Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Lung Neoplasms - secondary; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Neoplasms, Second Primary - diagnostic imaging; Otorhinolaryngology (head neck, general aspects and miscellaneous); Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Prospective Studies; second primary tumor; squamous cell carcinoma; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Tumors
• ISSN: 1043-3074; 1097-0347
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.20259

Background. The benefits of CT scanning of the chest and abdomen as a routine screening method for patients with newly diagnosed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remain unclear. Methods. Consecutive patients with a primary HNSCC (T classification, T2–T4) and or regionally metastatic disease (ie, N+) were eligible for inclusion. Patients who were considered incurable and patients with recurrent disease were excluded. CT scans of the chest and abdomen were performed. Results. We examined 100 patients. Two patients had pulmonary metastases at presentation. An occult aortic aneurysm required surgical repair before anticancer therapy in one patient. In many patients, nonspecific CT findings warranted further examinations or close follow‐up. The abdominal CT was negative for metastatic HNSCC in all patients. Conclusions. Routine CT screening of the chest and abdomen resulted in upstaging of disease in two patients (2%) and altered the treatment approach in three patients (3%). Abdominal CT does not seem beneficial in patients with previously untreated HNSCC. Chest CT is not indicated routinely. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 27: XXX–XXX, 2005