FDG-PET/CT imaging for staging and radiotherapy treatment planning of head and neck carcinoma

FDG-PET/CT imaging for staging and radiotherapy treatment planning of head and neck carcinoma

BACKGROUND Positron emission tomography (PET) has a potential improvement for staging and radiation treatment planning of various tumor sites. We analyzed the use of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET/computed tomography (CT) images for staging and target volume delineation of patients with head and neck carcinoma candidates for radiotherapy. METHODS Twenty-two patients candidates for primary r...

PETCT in radiotherapy treatment planning

Impact of FDG-PET/CT imaging on nodal staging for head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE To evaluate the impact of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) imaging on nodal staging for head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). METHODS AND MATERIALS The study population consisted of 23 patients with head-and-neck SCC who were evaluated with FDG-PET/CT and went on to neck dissection. Two observers consensually determined the le...

F-18 FDG PET-CT fusion in radiotherapy treatment planning for head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND The fusion of fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) with CT scans has been shown to improve diagnostic accuracy and staging in non-small cell lung cancer. We report on the influence of PET-CT fusion on the management of patients with head and neck cancer. METHODS Thirty-six patients with intact primary head and neck cancers treated with radiation therapy (...

Molecular imaging in radiotherapy planning for head and neck tumors.

Molecular imaging uses noninvasive techniques to visualize various biologic pathways and physiologic characteristics of tumors and normal tissues. In relation to radiation therapy, PET with the tracer (18)F-FDG offers a unique opportunity to refine the target volume delineation in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, in turn affecting dose distribution and, it is hoped, p...