Association between maximum standarised uptake value (SUV) and local control in patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma treated with radiotherapy

Abstract

Objective: To analyse the prognostic ability of the maximum standardised uptake value (SUV_max) on local disease control in patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma treated with radiotherapy.

Material and methods: Retrospective study of 105 patients with oropharyngeal carcinomas treated with radiotherapy, including chemo- and bio-radiotherapy, and who had a PET-CT scan prior to the start of treatment.

Result: Patients with a SUV_max value higher than 17.2 at the primary tumour site had a significantly higher risk of local recurrence. The 5-year local recurrence-free survival for patients with SUV_max less than or equal to 17.2 (n = 71) was 86.5% (95% CI 78.2-94.7 %), and for patients with SUV_max greater than 17.2 (n = 34) it was 55.8% (95% CI 36.0-75.6 %) (P = 0.0001). This difference in local control was maintained regardless of patients' HPV status. Specific survival was similarly lower for patients with a SUV greater than 17.2. The 5-year specific survival for patients with SUV_max greater than 17.2 was 39.5% (95% CI: 20.6-58.3 %), significantly shorter than that of patients with SUV_max equal to or less than 17.2, which was 77.3% (95% CI: 66.9-87.6 %) (P = 0.0001).

Conclusions: Patients with oropharyngeal carcinomas treated with radiotherapy with a SUV_max greater than 17.2 at the level of the primary tumour site had a significantly higher risk of local recurrence.

Keywords: Capacidad pronóstica; Carcinoma orofaringe; Oropharyngeal carcinoma; Prognostic ability; Radiation therapy; Radioterapia; SUV(m)(á)(x); SUV(max).