Value of FDG-PET/MR in Oral Focus Assessment in Head and Neck Cancer Patients-A Feasibility Study.

FDG-PET/MR is a hybrid imaging modality used for the staging and restaging of advanced head & neck cancer (HNC) patients. Their treatment typically involves radiation therapy, which requires previous dental focus assessment. The aim of this study was to analyze if staging FDG-PET/MR is a valuable tool for oral focus assessment. For this purpose, FDG-PET/MR findings, such as metabolic activity of periapical radiolucencies and marginal periodontitis, were retrospectively compared with conventional standardized dental focus assessment, including dental radiographs and clinical assessment of 124 teeth in seven patients. Increased FDG uptake of periapical lesions was found in one out of 23 lesions. Increased FDG uptake of the marginal periodontium was recorded in one out of 34 lesions. In summary, standardized dental focus assessment by panoramic radiography and periapical radiographs may be enriched by information from FDG-PET/MR, showing active inflammation in dental foci. However, many dental foci have no correlate in FDG-PET/MR. The treatment decision for oral foci may benefit from the visualized presence or absence of metabolic activity on FDG-PET/MR.

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Copyright © 2022 Valdec, Bosshard, Hüllner, Schwaninger, Stocker, Giacomelli-Hiestand and Stadlinger.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

MH received research grants from GE Healthcare, grants from the CRPP Artificial Intelligence in oncological Imaging Network by the University of Zurich, and a fund by the Alfred and Annemarie von Sick legacy for translational and clinical cardiac and oncological research. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.