[Metabolic Tumor Imaging in Head and Neck Oncology]

Metabolic Tumor Imaging in Head and Neck Oncology Abstract. Fluorodeoxyglucose with position emission tomography combined with CT or MRI (FDG-PET) has become an important diagnostic and staging method in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Some regard FDG-PET merely as a tool able of displaying cancer cells as bright spots on imaging. However, quantification of FDG uptake can be used as a surrogate marker for tumor aggressiveness and predict tumor response before (chemo)-radiation. The FDG uptake of the primary tumor can also predict surgical outcome measures such as depth of invasion, occult nodal metastasis, or bone invasion for oral cancer and/or organ preservation in hypopharyngeal cancer.