False Positive Positron Emission Tomography / Computed Tomography Scans in Treated Head and Neck Cancers

Curēus
Michael K CheungSun K Yi

Abstract

Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging for head and neck cancers (HNC) is commonly utilized for post-treatment assessment. Though PET/CT in this setting has been reported to have high negative predictive values (> 90%), positive predictive values have been reported at approximately 50%, leading to high rates of false positivity (FP) and troubling management decisions for both patient and practitioner. The objective of this study was to identify patient, disease, treatment and imaging factors that might be associated with a higher likelihood of FP on initial post-treatment PET/CT imaging for patients treated for HNC. A retrospective chart review was performed on 84 patients treated for HNC who received radiation therapy (RT) as part of their overall management from October 2005 to August 2013. Of the patients screened, 19 were found to have mucosally based squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with positive initial post-treatment PET/CT studies (23%). Fisher's exact test was used to analyze the association between categorical variables and FP, including patient's gender, disease laterality, primary tumor site and stage, nodal and overall stage, high dose RT fraction size, number of RT fractions completed, tota...Continue Reading

Citations

Oct 15, 2019·F1000Research·Edgar PratasMargarida Teixeira
Dec 29, 2020·ACS Nano·Chen Tzror-AzankotRachela Popovtzer

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surgical resection
biopsy
biopsies

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