Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

The Korean Society of Nuclear Medicine (대한핵의학회)
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Accuracy of F-18 FDG PET/CT in Preoperative Assessment of Cervical Lymph Nodes in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer: Comparison with CT/MRI

두경부 편평상피암 환자에서 수술 전 경부림프절 전이 평가에 대한 F-18 FDG PET/CT의 정확도: CT/MRI와의 비교

  • Choi, Seung-Jin (Departments of Nuclear Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine) ;
  • Byun, Sung-Su (Departments of Radiology, Inha University College of Medicine) ;
  • Park, Sun-Won (Departments of Radiology, Inha University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Young-Mo (Departments of Otolaryngology, Inha University College of Medicine) ;
  • Hyun, In-Young (Departments of Nuclear Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine)
  • 최승진 (인하대학교 의과대학 핵의학교실) ;
  • 변성수 (인하대학교 의과대학 방사선과학교실) ;
  • 박선원 (인하대학교 의과대학 방사선과학교실) ;
  • 김영모 (인하대학교 의과대학 이비인후과학교실) ;
  • 현인영 (인하대학교 의과대학 핵의학교실)
  • Published : 2006.12.31
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Abstract

Purpose: Accurate evaluation of cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis of head and neck squamous cell canter (SCC) is important to treatment planning. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for the detection of cervical LN metastasis of head and neck SCC and performed a retrospective comparison with CT/MRI findings. Materials & Methods: Seventeen patients with pathologically proven head and neck SCC underwent F-18 FDG PET/CT and CT/MRI within 4 week before surgery. We recorded lymph node metastases according to the neck level system of imaging-based nodal classification. F-18 FDG PET/CT images were analyzed visually for assessment of regional tracer uptake in LN. We analyzed the differences in sensitivity and specificity between F-18 FDG PET/CT and CT/MRI using the Chi-square test. Results: Among the 17 patients, a total of 123 LN levels were dissected, 29 of which showed metastatic involvement. The sensitivity and specificity of F-18 FDG PET/CT for detecting cervical LN metastasis on a level-by-level basis were 69% (20/29) and 99% (93/94). The sensitivity and specificity of CT/MRI were 62% (18/29) and 96% (90/94). There was no significant difference in diagnostic accuracy between F-18 FDG PET/CT and CT/MRI. Interestingly, F-18 FDG PET/CT detected double primary tumor (hepatocellular carcinoma) and rib metastasis, respectively. Conclusion: There was not statistically significant difference of diagnostic accuracy between F-18 FDG PET/CT and CT/MRI for the detection of cervical LN metastasis of head and neck SCC. The low sensitivity of F-18 FDG PET/CT was due to limited resolution for small metastatic deposits.

목적: 두경부 편평상피암 환자에서 경부림프절전이에 대한 F-18 FDG PET/CT의 진단성적을 평가하고 CT/MRI와 비교하였다. 대상 및 방법: 수술전 조직검사로 편평상피암으로 진단받은 17명(남: 15명, 여: 2명, 평균나이: $59{\pm}11$세)의 환자를 대상으로 F-18 FDG PET/CT를 시행하였다. 경부림프절의 F-18 FDG섭취 정도는 세 등급(1=배후방사능, 2=간방사능보다 낮거나 같은 경우, 3=간방사능보다 높은 경우)으로 나누었고, 3등급일 때 전이로 진단하였다. 경부림프절전이에 대한 F-18 FDG PET/CT의 예민도와 특이도를 CT/MRI와 비교하였다. 결과: 17명의 환자에서 123개의 경부림프절이 절제되었고 이 중 29개가 전이로 확진되었다. F-18 FDG PET/CT의 예민도는 69%(20/29), 특이도는 99%(93/94), CT/MRI의 예민도는 62%(18/29), 특이도는 96%(90/94)로 경부림프절전이에 대한 두 검사의 진단성적은 유의한 차이가 없었다. 그러나 F-18 FDG PET/CT는 각각의 환자에서 간에 생긴 이차성 원발암과 늑골전이를 발견할 수 있었다. 결론: 두경부 편평상피암에서 경부림프절 전이에 대한 F-18 FDG PET/CT의 특이도는 매우 높았지만 예민도는 비교적 낮았고 CT/MRI와 유의하게 다르지 않았다. F-18 FDG PET/CT의 비교적 낮은 예민도의 원인은 최근 많이 절제되고 있는 잠재 전이의 가능성이 있는 작은 경부림프절을 발견하지 못하는 F-18 FDG PET/CT 의 한계 때문이었다. 그러나 F-18 FDG PET/CT는 이차성 원발암과 원격전이를 부가적으로 평가할 수 있어 환자의 치료 방침 결정에 유용하였다.

Keywords

References

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