Relation between Histopathology of Head and Neck Cancers and FDG-PET/CT Parameters

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To analyse the relationship between histology of head and neck cancers and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and metabolic tumor volume (MTV). METHODS Positron-emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) examinations of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and non-squamous cell carcinoma (non-SCC) tumors with 52 patients reviewed from 2007 to 2019 retrospectively. MTV and SUVmax values of primary tumor were measured in PET/CT and both groups were statistically compared. RESULTS The median SUVmax value was 17.88 (3-52) and MTV was 5.40 (0-329). No significant difference was established between the groups in terms of age, gender and MTV (p=0.948, p=0.166 and p=0.189) respectively. SUVmax value in SCC group was significantly higher (p=0.003) than the non-SCC group. CONCLUSION Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) have higher SUVmax values than non SCC tumors. No significant difference was established between the groups in terms of MTV.