Prognostic role of primary tumor metabolic-volumetric parameters of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in tongue squamous cell carcinoma

Aim: It was aimed to evaluate the prognostic role of primary tumor metabolic-volumetric parameters 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in resectable tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC).Material and Method: The imaging findings 44 TSCC patients (23 females, 21 males, mean age: 58±12 years) with tumors who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT for staging before surgery between 2010-2021 were evaluated retrospectively. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), metabolic volume (MTV) acquired from PET/CT. Histopathological risk factors (pathological nodal stage, perineural lymphovascular invasion, depth surgical margin positivity) obtained resection material also recorded. values histopathological assessed by Cox proportional hazards regression models. Survival curves estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis.Results: median follow-up period after diagnosis 24 months (range: 2-152 months). univariate multivariate analyses demonstrated that MTV only parameter which significantly related prognosis PFS OS. higher (> 3.13 cm3) had lower OS rates compared those (≤ (p<0.001, p=0.002, respectively). Conclusion: Primary is an independent factor TSCC. PET volumetric features can be used as biomarker predict poor prognosis.