MRI and PET/CT in the assessment of lymph node metastases in head and neck cancer
Sprache des Titels:
Englisch
Original Kurzfassung:
The aim of this study is to present the diagnostic accuracy of MRI and PET/CT in the evaluation
of cervical lymph nodes in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). Data of 114 patients who
underwent MRI and PET/CT prior to surgery in the time period between January 2010 and September
2021 in our center is analyzed retrospectively. Histopathological results of surgical preparations serve
as the gold standard. The mean time from MRI to surgery is 22.9 (± 18.7) days, and from PET/CT to
surgery 21.7 (± 19.9) days. Sensitivities of 80.4% and 80.4%, specificities of 85.7% and 87.3%, PPVs of
82.0% and 83.7% and NPVs of 84.4% and 84.6% are registered for MRI and PET/CT, respectively. 37
false results are further analyzed with respect to side and level of the affected lymph node, as well as
intersections of the two imaging modalities. In 29 patients (25.4%), additional findings are described
in PET/CT, 7 (6.1%) of which were histologically confirmed to be further malignancies. A combination
of both MRI and PET/CT imaging modalities could improve diagnostic accuracy, especially with regard
to sensitivity. A notable number of additional findings in whole body acquisition leads to the potential
diagnosis of further malignancies.
Forschungs-