Abstract
We present a case of a negative positron emission tomography (PET) scan in a patient with pathologic viable cancer at neck dissection. STUDY DESIGN: Case Report. METHODS: A 69-year-old man presented with clinical stage T2N2c squamous cell cancer of the left tonsil and was treated with definitive chemoradiation. Left-sided adenopathy decreased but remained palpable after therapy. RESULTS: PET scan performed 23 days after completion of treatment showed no suspicious uptake in the left neck. Neck dissection performed at 2 months post-therapy revealed viable tumor in left cervical nodes. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent adenopathy after chemoradiation for head and neck cancer remains a clinical dilemma. A negative PET scan is accurate but only if the scan is performed 3 to 4 months after therapy.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 2206-2208 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Laryngoscope |
Volume | 115 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2005 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Otorhinolaryngology