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Caldarella C, De Risi M, Massaccesi M, Miccichè F, Bussu F, Galli J, Rufini V, Leccisotti L. Role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Current Evidence and Innovative Applications. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1905. [PMID: 38791983 PMCID: PMC11119768 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16101905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
This article provides an overview of the use of 18F-FDG PET/CT in various clinical scenarios of head-neck squamous cell carcinoma, ranging from initial staging to treatment-response assessment, and post-therapy follow-up, with a focus on the current evidence, debated issues, and innovative applications. Methodological aspects and the most frequent pitfalls in head-neck imaging interpretation are described. In the initial work-up, 18F-FDG PET/CT is recommended in patients with metastatic cervical lymphadenectomy and occult primary tumor; moreover, it is a well-established imaging tool for detecting cervical nodal involvement, distant metastases, and synchronous primary tumors. Various 18F-FDG pre-treatment parameters show prognostic value in terms of disease progression and overall survival. In this scenario, an emerging role is played by radiomics and machine learning. For radiation-treatment planning, 18F-FDG PET/CT provides an accurate delineation of target volumes and treatment adaptation. Due to its high negative predictive value, 18F-FDG PET/CT, performed at least 12 weeks after the completion of chemoradiotherapy, can prevent unnecessary neck dissections. In addition to radiomics and machine learning, emerging applications include PET/MRI, which combines the high soft-tissue contrast of MRI with the metabolic information of PET, and the use of PET radiopharmaceuticals other than 18F-FDG, which can answer specific clinical needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmelo Caldarella
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, Department of Radiology and Oncologic Radiotherapy, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (C.C.); (M.D.R.); (L.L.)
| | - Marina De Risi
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, Department of Radiology and Oncologic Radiotherapy, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (C.C.); (M.D.R.); (L.L.)
| | - Mariangela Massaccesi
- Radiation Oncology Unit, Department of Radiology and Oncologic Radiotherapy, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Francesco Miccichè
- Radiation Oncology Unit, Ospedale Isola Tiberina—Gemelli Isola, 00186 Rome, Italy;
| | - Francesco Bussu
- Otorhinolaryngology Operative Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy;
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Jacopo Galli
- Otorhinolaryngology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Sensory Organs and Thorax, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
- Section of Otolaryngology, Department of Head-Neck and Sensory Organs, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Vittoria Rufini
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, Department of Radiology and Oncologic Radiotherapy, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (C.C.); (M.D.R.); (L.L.)
- Section of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiological Sciences and Hematology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Leccisotti
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, Department of Radiology and Oncologic Radiotherapy, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (C.C.); (M.D.R.); (L.L.)
- Section of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiological Sciences and Hematology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
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Abstract
In academic centers, PET/MR has taken the road to clinical nuclear medicine in the past 6 years since the last review on its applications in head and neck cancer patients in this journal. Meanwhile, older sequential PET + MR machines have largely vanished from clinical sites, being replaced by integrated simultaneous PET/MR scanners. Evidence from several studies suggests that PET/MR overall performs equally well as PET/CT in the staging and restaging of head and neck cancer and in radiation therapy planning. PET/MR appears to offer advantages in the characterization and prognostication of head and neck malignancies through multiparametric imaging, which demands an exact preparation and validation of imaging modalities, however. The majority of available clinical PET/MR studies today covers FDG imaging of squamous cell carcinoma arising from a broad spectrum of locations in the upper aerodigestive tract. In the future, specific PET/MR studies are desired that address specific histopathological tumor entities, nonepithelial malignancies, such as major salivary gland tumors, squamous cell carcinomas arising in specific locations, and malignancies imaged with non-FDG radiotracers. With the advent of digital PET/CT scanners, PET/MR is expected to partake in future technical developments, such as novel iterative reconstruction techniques and deviceless motion correction for respiration and gross movement in the head and neck region. Owing to the still comparably high costs of PET/MR scanners and facility requirements on the one hand, and the concentration of multidisciplinary head and neck cancer treatment mainly at academic centers on the other hand, a more widespread use of this imaging modality outside major hospitals is currently limited.
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