Abstract
Thirteen patients with locoregional advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated by intensive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) whose primary site were CR but neck were equivocal by CT or MRI underwent FDG-PET 1-12 month after the end of CRT. Seven unresectable cases were included. Results: Thirteen patients with a total of 20 cervical lymphadenopathy were evaluated by FDG-PET (visual analysis). A negative predictive value (NPV) was low with 50% in 1-2 month after CRT but high with 92% in 3-12 month. Conclusion: We suggested that FDG-PET should be performed three months, after CRT and lymphadenopathy (<1cm) on negative PET should be observed, lymphadenopathy (≥1cm) on negative PET should be close monitered or neck dissection should be performed after informed discussion with the patient, and neck dissection be performed if lymphadenopathy is positive on PET.
