Comparison of positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging and ultrasound in surveillance of head and neck cancer - The 3-year experience of the ENT Department in Poznan

Background: Posttreatment surveillance for the local and regional recurrence of the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma often requires a multimodality techniques that include PET combined with CT, MRI, US. Aim: The purpose of this study is to compare the diagnostic performance of two imaging techniques (PET/CT and US), and their combined use for the detection of a subclinical regional recurrence in patients after HNSCC treatment. Materials and methods: 83 patients after completion of the HNSCC treatment underwent both US and PET/CT on the mean follow-up of 14 months after initial treatment. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of PET/CT were 86% and 82%, respectively; US values reached 81% and 87%, respectively. PPV was 79% for PET/CT, and 83% for US. NPV was 89% for PET/CT, and 85% for US. The overall accuracy for PET/CT and US was 84% for both methods. Conclusion: US could be regarded as complementary to PET/CT as the procedures with highest sensitivity, specificity and NPV for detecting subclinical regional recurrences after HNSCC treatment. (authors)