Pilot study of positron emission tomography in patients with advanced head and neck cancer receiving radiotherapy and chemotherapy

Abstract

The treatment-induced decrease in tumor hypermetabolism as seen on serial FDG PET parallels the clinical response in squamous carcinoma of the head and neck. Two-year follow-up scans also suggest that continued low tumor to nontumor ratios reflect eradication of local disease. Because of its high cost, a study of larger numbers of patients is necessary to better define the role of PET in the management of head and neck cancer.