Combined {sup 18}F-FDG-PET/CT Imaging in Radiotherapy Target Delineation for Head-and-Neck Cancer

Journal Article · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 2009 · International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2008.04.059· OSTI ID:21172626

Guido, Alessandra ^[1]; Fuccio, Lorenzo ^[2]; Rombi, Barbara ^[1]; Castellucci, Paolo ^[3]; Cecconi, Agnese; Bunkheila, Feisal ^[1]; Fuccio, Chiara ^[3]; Spezi, Emiliano; Angelini, Anna Lisa ^[1]; Barbieri, Enza ^[1]

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1. Division of Radiation Oncology, Policlinico S. Orsola, Bologna (Italy)
2. Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Policlinico S. Orsola, Bologna (Italy)
3. Division of Nuclear Medicine, Policlinico S. Orsola, Bologna (Italy)

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of the use of {sup 18}F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in radiotherapy target delineation for head-and-neck cancer compared with CT alone. Methods and Materials: A total of 38 consecutive patients with head-and-neck cancer were included in this study. The primary tumor sites were as follow: 20 oropharyngeal tumors, 4 laryngeal tumors, 2 hypopharyngeal tumors, 2 paranasal sinuses tumors, 9 nasopharyngeal tumors, and 1 parotid gland tumor. The FDG-PET and CT scans were performed with a dedicated PET/CT scanner in one session and then fused. Subsequently, patients underwent treatment planning CT with intravenous contrast enhancement. The radiation oncologist defined all gross tumor volumes (GTVs) using both the PET/CT and CT scans. Results: In 35 (92%) of 38 cases, the CT-based GTVs were larger than the PET/CT-based GTVs. The average total GTV from the CT and PET/CT scans was 34.54 cm{sup 3} (range, 3.56-109) and 29.38 cm{sup 3} (range, 2.87-95.02), respectively (p < 0.05). Separate analyses of the difference between the CT- and PET/CT-based GTVs of the primary tumor compared with the GTVs of nodal disease were not statistically significant. The comparison between the PET/CT-based and CT-based boost planning target volumes did not show a statistically significant difference. All patients were alive at the end of the follow-up period (range, 3-38 months). Conclusion: GTVs, but not planning target volumes, were significantly changed by the implementation of combined PET/CT. Large multicenter studies are needed to ascertain whether combined PET/CT in target delineation can influence the main clinical outcomes.

• OSTI ID: 21172626
• Journal Information: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, Journal Name: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 73; ISSN IOBPD3; ISSN 0360-3016
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
CARCINOMAS
COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY
FLUORINE 18
FLUORODEOXYGLUCOSE
GLANDS
HEAD
MEDICAL PERSONNEL
NECK
PATIENTS
PLANNING
POSITRON COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY
RADIOTHERAPY
SINUSES