Technetium-99m-MIBI in primary and recurrent head and neck tumors: contribution of bone SPECT image fusion.

Abstract

We propose the combined 99mTc-MIBI and bone ultra-high resolution SPECT as a highly useful imaging approach in the primary and secondary staging in patients with suspected malignancies in the head and neck region. The high specificity for malignancies in the head and neck region may be used in the differential diagnosis between head and neck malignancies and inflammatory disease in patients with the accidental finding of enlarged lymph nodes and no clinical signs of a primary tumor. Image fusion with bone scanning is mandatory for the topographical orientation and increases the specificity of bone scanning to differentiate between inflammatory or malignant causes of increased bone metabolism.