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Incidental head and neck findings on 18F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography computed tomography

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 July 2015

S P Williams ,
A J Kinshuck ,
C Williams ,
R Dwivedi ,
H Wieshmann  and
T M Jones
S P Williams*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool, UK
A J Kinshuck
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool, UK
C Williams
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool, UK
R Dwivedi
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool, UK
H Wieshmann
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool, UK
T M Jones
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool, UK Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr S Williams, Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool L9 7AL, UK E-mail: spwilliams@doctors.org.uk
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Abstract

Objective:

The overlapping risk factors for lung and head and neck cancer present a definite risk of synchronous malignant pathology. This is the first study to specifically review incidental positron emission tomography computed tomography findings in the head and neck region in lung carcinoma patients.

Methods:

A retrospective review was performed of all lung cancer patients who underwent positron emission tomography computed tomography imaging over a five-year period (January 2008 – December 2012), identified from the Liverpool thoracic multidisciplinary team database.

Results:

Six hundred and nine patients underwent positron emission tomography computed tomography imaging over this period. In 76 (12.5 per cent) scans, incidental regions of avid 18F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose uptake were reported in the head and neck region. In the 28 patients who were fully investigated, there were 4 incidental findings of malignancy.

Conclusion:

In lung cancer patients undergoing investigative positron emission tomography computed tomography scanning, a significant number will also present with areas of clinically significant 18F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose uptake in the head and neck region. Of these, at least 5 per cent may have an undiagnosed malignancy.

Keywords

Positron-Emission Tomography18F FluorodeoxyglucoseIncidental FindingsHead and Neck Neoplasms
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 129 , Issue 9 , September 2015 , pp. 898 - 902
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2015 

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