Combined PET/CT-perfusion in patients with head and neck cancers might predict failure after radio-chemotherapy: a proof of concept study

• Published in: BMC medical imaging 2015-12, Vol.15 (61), p.60-60, Article 60
• Main Authors: Pietsch, Carsten, de Galiza Barbosa, Felipe, Hüllner, Martin W, Schmid, Daniel T, Haerle, Stephan K, Huber, Gerhard F, Studer, Gabriela, Hany, Thomas F, Veit-Haibach, Patrick
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Cancer; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - diagnostic imaging; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - radiotherapy; Care and treatment; Chemoradiotherapy; Chemotherapy; Combined Modality Therapy; Complications and side effects; Female; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Head and neck cancer; Head and Neck Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Head and Neck Neoplasms - drug therapy; Head and Neck Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Health aspects; Humans; Male; Metastasis; Middle Aged; Multimodal Imaging; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - mortality; Neoplasm Staging; Positron-Emission Tomography; Predictive Value of Tests; Prospective Studies; Radiopharmaceuticals; Risk factors; Survival Rate; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 1471-2342; 1471-2342
• DOI: 10.1186/s12880-015-0102-z

[18F]FDG-PET/CT imaging is broadly used in head and neck cancer (HNSCC) patients. CT perfusion (CTP) is known to provide information about angiogenesis and blood-flow characteristics in tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential relationship of FDG-parameters and CTP-parameters in HNSCC preand post-therapy and the potential prognostic value of a combined PET/CT with CTP. Thirteen patients with histologic proven HNSCC were prospectively included. All patients underwent a combined PET/CT with integrated CTP before and after therapy. Pre- and post-therapeutic data of CTP and PET of the tumors were compared. Differences were tested using Spearman's rho test and Pearson's correlation. A p-value of p