Use of PET/ CT in diagnostics of distant metastasis and secondary malignancies in head and neck oncology

Aim: Our goal was to assess our experience with accuracy of PET/ CT in the dia­gnostics of distant metastases and duplicity tumors in head and neck oncology. Methods: In total, 159 patients with a previously histologically verified malignant tumor of the head and neck underwent whole-body PET/ CT in our facility from 2016 to 2019. In 51 cases, we found out higher uptake of marked radiopharmaceutical (fluorodeoxyglucose) out of the head and neck region. In a retrospective study, we were evaluating the sensitivity and specificity of the method in the dia­gnostics of distant metastases and duplicities. Results: In our study, PET/ CT has sensitivity of 95.7% and specificity of 79.9% with positive and negative predictive values of 44.9% and 99.1% respectively. Conclusion: The method has a high sensitivity but lower specificity rate in the dia­gnostics of distant metastases (duplicity tumors) in head and neck oncology. Considering high radiation load and the price and availability of PET/ CT, it is necessary to consider the indication of this technique properly.