Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Detection of cancer recurrence in irradiated mandible using positron emission tomography

  • Brief Communication
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a promising method for pretherapeutic assessment of spread of squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) in the head and neck. A 41-year-old man with a history of operated and irradiated SCC of the tongue presented 4 years later with symptoms and signs of mandibular osteoradionecrosis. No changes related to malignancy could be seen in panoramic radiographs or computed tomography scanning with contrast enhancement. Since a biopsy of the involved region was positive for SCC, a PET study with [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) was performed. In dynamic PET images, intensive uptake of FDG was seen in a small area close to the right mental foramen. A hemimandibulectomy with reconstruction using a free vascularized graft from iliac crest was performed. In the resected specimen, histological examination showed a 1.2-mm focus of SCC in the soft tissue and bone around the mental foramen. These findings indicate that FDG-PET might be useful for presurgical evaluation of cancer recurrence in a previously irradiated mandible, especially if PET can accurately differentiate viable tumor tissue from radiation-induced fibrosis and inflammation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Benner SE, Lippman SM, Ki Hong W (1992) Prevention of second head and neck cancers. Semin Radiat Oncol 2:206–212

    Google Scholar 

  2. Chen GTY, Pelizzari CA, Levin DN (1990) Image correlation in oncology. In: deVita V, Hellmann S, Rosenberg SA (eds) Important advances in oncology Lippincott, Philadelphia, pp 131–141

  3. Coleman RE (1991) Single photon emission computed tomography and positron emission tomography in cancer imaging. Cancer 67:1261–1270

    Google Scholar 

  4. Donath K, Brenner G (1982) A method for the study of undecalcified bones and teeth with attached soft tissues. J Oral Pathol 11:318–324

    Google Scholar 

  5. Fogelman I, Collier BD (1988) An atlas of planar and SPECT bone scans. Dunitz, London, pp 84–87

    Google Scholar 

  6. Griffeth LK, Dehdashti F, McGuire AH, McGuire DJ, Perry DJ, Moerlein SM, Siegel BA (1992) PET evaluation of soft-tissue masses with fluorine-18 fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose. Radiology 182:185–194

    Google Scholar 

  7. Haberkorn U, Strauss LG, Reisser C, Haag D, Dimitrakopoulou A, Ziegler S, Oberdorfer F, Rudat V, Kaick G van (1991) Glucose uptake, perfusion, and cell proliferation in head and neck tumors: relation of positron emission tomography to flow cytometry. J Nucl Med 32:1548–1555

    Google Scholar 

  8. Higashi K, Clavo AC, Wahl RL (1993) Does FDG uptake measure proliferative activity of human cancer cells? In vitro comparison with DNA flow cytometry and tritiated thymidine uptake. J Nucl Med 34:414–419

    Google Scholar 

  9. Jabour BA, Choi Y, Hoh CK, Rege SD, Soong JC, Lufkin RB, Hanafee WN, Maddahi J, Chaiken L, Bailet J, Phelps ME, Hawkins RA, Abemeyor E (1993) Extracranial head and neck: PET imaging with 2-[F-18]fluoro-2-dexoy-d-glucose and MR imaging correlation. Radiology 186:27–35

    Google Scholar 

  10. Minn H, Paul R, Ahonen A (1988) Evaluation of treatment response to radiotherapy in head and neck cancer with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose. J Nucl Med 29:1521–1525

    Google Scholar 

  11. Minn H, Leskinen-Kallio S, Lindholm P, Bergman J, Ruotsalainen U, Teräs M, Haaparanta M (1993) [8F]fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in tumors: kinetic vs. steady-state methods with reference to plasma insulin. J Comput Assist Tomogr 17:115–123

    Google Scholar 

  12. Noyek AM, Witterick IJ, Kirsh JC (1991) Radionuclide imaging in otolaryngology - head and neck surgery. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 117:372–378

    Google Scholar 

  13. Rubin P (1984) The Franz Busche lecture. Late effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy: a new hypothesis. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 10:5–34

    Google Scholar 

  14. Strauss LG, Conti PS (1991) The applications of PET in clinical oncology. J Nucl Med 32:623–648

    Google Scholar 

  15. Strauss LG, Clorius JH, Schlag P, Lehner B, Kimmig P, Engenhart R, Marin-Grez M, Helus F, Oberdorfer F, Schmidlin P, Kaick G van (1989) Recurrence of colorectal tumors: PET evaluation. Radiolgoy 170:329–332

    Google Scholar 

  16. Valk PE, Dillon WP (1991) Radiation injury of the brain. AJR 156:689–706

    Google Scholar 

  17. Weinhouse S (1976) The Warburg hypothesis fifty years later. Z Krebsforsch 87:115–126

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, University of Turku, SF-20520, Turku, Finland

    H. Minn

  2. Department of Radiotherapy, University of Turku, SF-20520, Turku, Finland

    K. Aitasalo

  3. Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, SF-20520, Turku, Finland

    R.-P. Happonen

  4. Turku University Cyclotron/PET Center, University of Turku, SF-20520, Turku, Finland

    H. Minn

Authors
  1. H. Minn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. Aitasalo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R.-P. Happonen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Minn, H., Aitasalo, K. & Happonen, RP. Detection of cancer recurrence in irradiated mandible using positron emission tomography. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 250, 312–315 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00186234

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00186234

Key words

Search

Navigation