The Role of PET/CT for Lung Lesions in Oral Cavity Cancer

Abstract

Objective: Determine the significant parameters of PET/CT in the prediction of the nature of lung lesions during the staging of newly diagnosed or recurrent oral cavity cancer.

Method: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 183 patients from July 2010 to December 2011 with newly diagnosed or recurrent oral cavity cancer. Twelve cases with positive PET/CT lung lesions (SUVmax >4) subsequently underwent biopsy. The SUVmax, number of lesion, and side were studied.

Results: A total of 12 patients were collected as suspicious for lung metastases. One case with esophageal cancer was excluded. Five were lung metastases, 3 were second primary lung cancer, and the remaining 3 were chronic inflammation. Comparing with second primary and chronic inflammation, metastases had higher SUVmax but without significant difference (P value >.05). Metastases and chronic inflammation had higher incidence of multifocal lesions comparing with second primary (P value, metastases vs second primary: .008, chronic inflammation vs second primary: .09). There is no significant difference between the metastases and chronic inflammation (P value: .38). For side and lesion, no significance was noted.

Conclusion: Based on our preliminary data, higher SUVmax value (mean: lung metastases: 6.65, second primary lung cancer: 3.96, chronic inflammation: 3.98) and multifocal lesions favor metastatic lung lesions compared with second primary or chronic inflammation.