Table 3.
Summary of outcomes of patients with an equivocal lymph node response assessment by positron emission tomography (PET)-CT
| Primary | Stage | Treatment | Baseline LN size (mm) | Baseline LN SUVmax | Response in primary | Response LN size (mm) | Response LN SUVmax | F/U (months) | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oropharynx, base of tongue | T4N2b | Cisplatin RT | 19 | 5.4 | PR | 9 | 2.6 | 41 | EUA-CR in primary; DF |
| Oropharynx, tonsil | T2N2b | Cisplatin RT | 12 | 3.0 | CR | 7 | 2.4 | 27 | DF |
| Unknown primary | TxN2b | TPF + cisplatin RT | 28 | 9.0 | N/A | 8 | 2.7 | 60 | Negative neck dissection; DF |
| Oropharynx, tonsil | T3N2b | Cisplatin RT | 35 | 8.7 | CR | 15 | 2.7 | 37 | Rpt PET unchanged 2/12; negative neck dissection; DF |
| Oropharynx, base of tongue | T1N2b | Cisplatin RT | 30 | 9.7 | CR | 9 | 2.3 | 32 | DF |
| Oropharynx, base of tongue | T1N2c | Cisplatin RT | 24 | 10.8 | CR | 8 | 2.4 | 12 | DF, equivocal lung nodules on F/U |
| Oropharynx, base of tongue | T3N2b | Cisplatin RT | 29 | 12.6 | CR | 7 | 2.1 | 44 | Lung metastases developed at 12/12 F/U; no nodal progression; died after 36 months |
| Hypopharynx | T3N2c | Cisplatin RT | 14 | 11.3 | CR | 9 | 2.8 | 13 | FNA neck: squamous cell carcinoma. Subsequent nodal progression with new lung metastases |
| Oropharynx, tonsil | T2N1 | Cisplatin RT | 10 | 3.0 | No response | 6 | 2.0 | 16 | Salvage surgery to primary/neck; no pathological LN in neck |
| Oropharynx, tonsil | T1N2b | Cisplatin RT | 50 | 16.4 | CR | 7 | 2.4 | 57 | Regional neck recurrence with synchronous lung metastases |
CR, complete response; DF, disease free; EUA, examination under anaesthetic; FNA, fine-needle aspiration; F/U, follow-up; LN, lymph node; N/A, not applicable; PR, partial response; Rpt, repeat; RT, radiotherapy; SUVmax, maximum standardized uptake value; TPF, docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil.