PET/CT-MR Imaging in Head and Neck Cancer Including Pitfalls and Physiologic Variations

Laurie A Loevner; Ann K Kim; Igor Mikityansky

doi:10.1016/j.cpet.2009.04.008

PET/CT-MR Imaging in Head and Neck Cancer Including Pitfalls and Physiologic Variations

PET Clin. 2008 Jul;3(3):335-53. doi: 10.1016/j.cpet.2009.04.008. Epub 2009 Jun 21.

Authors

Laurie A Loevner¹, Ann K Kim², Igor Mikityansky²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. Electronic address: laurie.loevner@uphs.upenn.edu.
² Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

PMID: 27156665
DOI: 10.1016/j.cpet.2009.04.008

Abstract

This article emphasizes the strengths and potential pitfalls of functional and anatomic imaging in patients who have head and neck cancer with an emphasis on the treated neck, including patients who have undergone surgery and/or radiation therapy. Anatomic and molecular imaging together allow optimal evaluation and interpretation of a patient who has cancer. Effective assessment of patients who have head and neck cancer can be achieved through a careful review of pertinent anatomy, with awareness of the physiologic variations (especially those in the treated head and neck) seen in PET imaging, and analysis of both the PET and cross-sectional images.

Keywords: Cancer; Head and neck; Larynx; PET-CT; PET-MR imaging; Pharynx; Physiologic variations; Pitfalls.

Publication types

Review