研究目的
To investigate the use of 18F-FDG PET/CT in head and neck cancer staging and its effect on therapeutic strategy and radiotherapy planning.
研究成果
18F-FDG PET/CT leads to significant reclassification in head and neck cancer staging, affecting therapeutic decisions and radiotherapy planning by detecting more metastases and synchronous tumors than conventional imaging. It improves the accuracy of gross tumor volume delineation and nodal disease assessment, potentially enhancing treatment outcomes, though further studies are needed to confirm impacts on survival and toxicity.
研究不足
The study is retrospective, which limits data access and may introduce biases. It includes a variety of head and neck cancer subtypes, and long-term survival and toxicity outcomes were not assessed. Pathological uptake in lymph nodes was not histologically confirmed, and the radiotherapy planning used a fixed threshold (40% of SUVmax) which may not be optimal. The sample size, while one of the largest, may still be insufficient for generalizable conclusions.
1：Experimental Design and Method Selection:
A cohort study design was used to compare staging based on CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with head and neck cancer. The study involved retrospective analysis of imaging data to assess reclassification of staging and its impact on treatment decisions.
2：Sample Selection and Data Sources:
100 consecutive patients with untreated primary head and neck cancer were included from the hospital tumor registry between June 2009 and January
3：Selection criteria were based on clinical staging using physical examination, fibroendoscopy if needed, CT, and chest X-ray. List of Experimental Equipment and Materials:
20 Equipment included a Phillips Brilliance Ict CT scanner and a Siemens Biograph True Point PET/CT scanner. Materials included 18F-FDG radiotracer (5 MBq/kg; 250-450 MBq), intravenous contrast for CT if not contraindicated, and a thermoplastic mask for immobilization during PET/CT.
4：Experimental Procedures and Operational Workflow:
Patients underwent contrast-enhanced CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT in radiotherapy simulation position. PET/CT images were acquired 60±10 minutes after 18F-FDG injection, with acquisition time of 3-4 minutes per bed position. Images were reconstructed and fused with CT for attenuation correction and anatomical localization. Staging based on PET/CT was compared to CT-based staging, and changes in therapeutic management were analyzed.
5：Data Analysis Methods:
Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (means, ranges, frequencies). Staging reclassification was assessed by comparing CT and PET/CT findings, and impact on treatment was evaluated by changes in therapeutic intent and radiotherapy planning.
独家科研数据包，助您复现前沿成果，加速创新突破
获取完整内容
