Utility of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in supracricoid partial laryngectomy

Conclusion: ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT is a useful technique for the evaluation of paraglottic space invasion and lymph node metastasis in patients with supracricoid partial laryngectomy (SCPL). Primary SUVmax values (using 7.0 as a cut-off) and nodal SUVmax values (using 2.2 as a cut-off) are important for recurrence and poor prognosis. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT for paraglottic space invasion and lymph node metastasis and the prognostic significance in SCPL. Methods: The medical records of 42 patients who underwent ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT for SCPL before surgery were reviewed. Results: The median primary SUVmax was 6.63 ± 5.07 and the median nodal SUVmax was 1.25 ± 1.86. The primary SUVmax values with paraglottic space invasion (8.34 ± 5.92) and without (4.57 ± 2.74) were significantly different (p = 0.015). The ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT had an accuracy of 87% for the identification of cervical metastases on a level-by-level basis. A median primary SUVmax value of 7.0 and nodal SUVmax of 2.2 were associated with recurrence (p = 0.022 and p = 0.009, respectively) and 5-year disease-specific survival (p = 0.021 and p = 0.041, respectively).