scholarly journals False Positive Positron Emission Tomography / Computed Tomography Scans in Treated Head and Neck Cancers

Cureus ◽  
2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael K Cheung ◽  
Shawn Y Ong ◽  
Uma Goyal ◽  
Betsy C Wertheim ◽  
Charles C Hsu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Positron Emission Tomography ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
False Positive ◽  
Head And Neck Cancers ◽  
Emission Tomography ◽  
Positive Positron Emission Tomography ◽  
Positron Emission ◽  
Computed Tomography Scans

An analysis of true- and false-positive results of vocal fold uptake in positron emission tomography-computed tomography imaging

2017 ◽  
Vol 132 (3) ◽  
pp. 270-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Seymour ◽  
G Burkill ◽  
M Harries
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Positron Emission Tomography ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
False Positive ◽  
Vocal Fold ◽  
Emission Tomography ◽  
True Positive ◽  
Positron Emission ◽  
Computed Tomography Scans ◽  
Positive Results

AbstractObjectives:Positron emission tomography-computed tomography with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxy-D-glucose has a major role in the investigation of head and neck cancers. Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxy-D-glucose is not a tumour-specific tracer and can also accumulate in benign pathology. Therefore, positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan interpretation difficulties are common in the head and neck, which can produce false-positive results. This study aimed to investigate patients detected as having abnormal vocal fold uptake on fluorine-18 fluorodeoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography.Methods:Positron emission tomography-computed tomography scans were identified over a 15-month period where reports contained evidence of unilateral vocal fold uptake or vocal fold pathology. Patients’ notes and laryngoscopy results were analysed.Results:Forty-six patients were identified as having abnormal vocal fold uptake on positron emission tomography-computed tomography. Twenty-three patients underwent positron emission tomography-computed tomography and flexible laryngoscopy: 61 per cent of patients had true-positive positron emission tomography-computed tomography scans and 39 per cent had false-positive scan results.Conclusion:Most patients referred to ENT for abnormal findings on positron emission tomography-computed tomography scans had true-positive findings. Asymmetrical fluorine-18 fluorodeoxy-D-glucose uptake should raise suspicion of vocal fold pathology, accepting a false-positive rate of approximately 40 per cent.

Radiographic properties of injected calcium hydroxylapatite: potential false positive findings on positron emission tomography

2008 ◽  
Vol 122 (12) ◽  
pp. 1394-1396 ◽  
Author(s):  
E J Damrose
Keyword(s):  
Positron Emission Tomography ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
False Positive ◽  
Head And Neck Carcinoma ◽  
Tracer Uptake ◽  
Emission Tomography ◽  
Partial Laryngectomy ◽  
Calcium Hydroxylapatite ◽  
Positive Positron Emission Tomography ◽  
Positron Emission

AbstractObjectives:To describe the positron emission tomography and computed tomography features of injected calcium hydroxylapatite, and to discuss how these may be mistaken for malignancy.Case report:Positron emission tomography is now readily employed in the staging and monitoring of patients with head and neck carcinoma. Concomitant with the growing use of this modality has been the increasing popularity of injected calcium hydroxylapatite to treat glottic incompetence secondary to vocal fold paralysis or following partial laryngectomy. A patient developed aspiration following near-total laryngectomy and subsequently underwent injection of calcium hydroxylapatite, with effective resolution of the aspiration. The patient underwent positron emission tomography scanning as part of routine tumour surveillance; this showed intense tracer uptake at the site of injection, and this pattern persisted for one year following injection.Conclusions:As injectable calcium hydroxylapatite becomes more widely used, especially in the treatment of patients with a history of head and neck cancer, physicians should be aware it may cause a potentially misleading, false positive positron emission tomography finding.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document