Significance of Incidental Nasopharyngeal Uptake on (18)F-FDG PET/CT: Patterns of Benign/Physiologic Uptake and Differentiation from Malignancy

Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
Narae LeeJin Kyoung Oh

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the significance of incidental nasopharyngeal uptake on 18F-FDG PET/CT and to identify image patterns useful in the differentiation between benign or physiologic activity and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients with nasopharyngeal uptakes on 18F-FDG PET/CT scans taken between January 2010 and July 2011. Patients with head and neck cancer, other metastatic head and neck lesions, or lymphoma were excluded. Total 177 patients were enrolled (Group A). PET images were reviewed for patterns of nasopharyngeal FDG uptake, presence/absence of cervical lymph node uptake and pattern of cervical node uptake. Diagnostic confirmation was made by pathology or clinical and radiological follow-up for 1 year or longer. Furthermore, initial PET/CT images of 48 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (Group B) were reviewed for comparison with PET/CT images of Group A patients. All nasopharyngeal uptakes in Group A were confirmed to be benign. Group B showed significantly more intense FDG uptake (SUVmax of Group A 3.9 ± 1.4 vs. Group B 10.4 ± 4.6, p<0.001). and asymmetric nasopharyngeal uptake (asymmetric uptake of Group A 67.8% vs. Group B 89.6%). When SUVmax of ...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jan 2, 2019·Otolaryngology--head and Neck Surgery : Official Journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery·Sharon TzelnickEthan Soudry
Sep 10, 2020·European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·Cristina Gamila Wakfie-CoriehJosé Luis Carreras Delgado
Sep 8, 2017·Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·Chae Hong LimJoon Young Choi
Jul 25, 2019·Molecular Imaging and Biology : MIB : the Official Publication of the Academy of Molecular Imaging·Dongyang DuLijun Lu

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