The Value of Imaging Methods with Emphasis on PET/CT in Head and Neck Tumours: a Comparison between a Novel Diagnostic Regime Using 18F-FDG PET and Conventional Techniques – Own Results and Literature Review

Head and neck cancers are rising in incidence. In the diagnosis of malignant head and neck cancer, conventional morphological imaging methods, i.e. ultrasonography, radiography, computerised tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MR) play a routine role besides clinical investigation. Despite these diverse techniques, the primary tumour often cannot be found. Furthermore, for staging purposes as well as for the detection of tumour recurrence after chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, morphological examination techniques such as CT and MR are of limited accuracy. Due to promising results in the literature, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography has been playing an increasing role in the assessment of malignant head and neck cancer. The authors present a literature review as well as their own data in comparison to conventional imaging methods.