FDG-PET is a useful tool in the imaging of head and neck tumours. It can be used to stage the primary tumour, to assess response to therapy and most importantly for the detection of recurrent tumour.
The most commonly used molecular imaging procedure for diagnosing or guiding treatment of head and neck cancer is positron emission tomography (PET) scanning, which is often used in conjunction with computed tomography (CT) scanning, and sentinel node biopsy.
For patients without evidence of thoracic metastases, routine PET/CT examination can include the neck and chest only.
Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) is a radiographic technique used to diagnose, stage, and survey hypermetabolic tissue, primarily cancer. This activity summarizes guidelines for when PET-CT is appropriate for evaluating head and neck cancer.
PET scans can show solid tumors in the brain, prostate, thyroid, lungs, and cervix. The scans can also evaluate the occurrence of colorectal, lymphoma, melanoma, and pancreatic tumors. They are also used to assess if treatment is being effective in eliminating cancer.
Scanning the whole body all at once
PET (positron emission tomography) is an extremely safe and powerful method for imaging inside the body, used to evaluate organs and other tissues for potential diseases, including cancer.
The scan usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes but you can expect to be in the PET imaging department for between 2 and 3 hours. Before the scan, you should: ask about any food and drink restrictions before your scan.
18F-Fluorodeoxy glucose positron emission tomography‒computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET) can detect malignant lymph nodes of even normal size, thus overcoming one of the major limitations of CT.
A PET scan can show the size, shape, and function of the brain, so your doctor can make sure it is working as well as it should. It is most often used when other tests, such as MRI scan or CT scan, do not provide enough information. This test can be used to: Diagnose cancer.
During the imaging scan, you will be required to lie flat with your arms raised above your head. If you think you will be unable to keep your arms above your head for approximately 35 minutes, please notify the technologist, and they may accommodate you.
The major drawback to standard PET is that the images are of substantially lower resolution than, for example, those of CT and MRI, and PET is generally poor at delineating anatomic detail.
The PET scan machine is a big, open circle -- like a standing donut -- with a table that moves in and out of it. If you have a fear of tight, closed spaces, you may get a drug to help keep you calm. You'll hear the machine buzz and click as it takes images. The scan itself is painless.
You should stay still and not talk while the scanner takes pictures of your body, which usually takes up to 30 minutes. The scan is completely painless, but you may feel uncomfortable lying still for this long. If you feel unwell at any point there is a buzzer you can press to alert the medical team.
The scanner takes about 30 minutes to produce detailed images of metabolic activity in your tissues and organs. A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test that can help reveal the metabolic or biochemical function of your tissues and organs.
In general, PET scans may be used to evaluate organs and/or tissues for the presence of disease or other conditions. PET may also be used to evaluate the function of organs, such as the heart or brain. The most common use of PET is in the detection of cancer and the evaluation of cancer treatment.
When the scan lights up brightly, it means there is metabolic activity. Most aggressive cancers light up brightly, but the caveat is inflammation in the body also lights up because inflammatory cells are also metabolically active. That's why we need to verify the scan results with a needle biopsy.
You can do normal activities after the scan. This includes driving. The staff will tell you to drink several glasses of water. This helps wash the radioactive substance and dye out of your body.
Do I have to pay for a PET scan? There is no cost for most PET scans if you are a citizen or permanent resident of Australia and covered by Medicare. For a limited number of indications that are not approved by Medicare, there can be a charge to the patient.
You should feel fine. There are no side effects. Drink fluids to ensure urinating and clearance of the radioactive FDG . You can drive and resume normal activities immediately after the scan.
Not all cancers show up on a PET scan. PET scan results are often used with other imaging and lab test results. Other tests are often needed to find out whether an area that collected a lot of radioactive material is non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant).
PET scans are most commonly used to detect: Cancer-Cancer cells have a higher metabolic rate than non-cancerous cells. Because of this high level of chemical activity, cancer cells show up as bright spots on PET scans.
For nodules that are not metabolically active during the PET/CT scan, it's not recommended to follow up with a biopsy. So patients avoid the risks of an unnecessary procedure. However, if the nodule positively reacts to the radiotracer, further investigation and a biopsy are strongly recommended.