| Abstract: |
Diagnosis and staging of laryngeal cancer is currently based on physical examination, endoscopy, and imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance (MR) and histology. While imaging techniques have a pivotal role for defining the size of the primary tumor, they are less accurate for defining metastatic involvement of regional lymph nodes, especially if lymph nodes are smaller than 10-15 mm. The aim of this study was to comparatively assess the relevance of 99mTc-tetrofosmin scintigraphy for the staging of laryngeal tumors versus the CT scan. We evaluated the sensitivity of imaging with 99mTc-tetrofosmin in 28 consecutively enrolled patients with squamous cell laryngeal carcinoma. Total-body scintigraphy with 99mTc-tetrofosmin was performed preoperatively, and the results were compared to CT images of the neck and mediastinum. CT and 99mTc- tetrofosmin scintigraphy were equally sensitive (96%) in identifying the primary tumor. While CT was more sensitive for detecting metastatic lymph nodes (100% versus 50%), 99mTc-tetrofosmin scintigraphy was more specific (100% versus 56%; p < 0.04). The overall diagnostic capabilities of the two techniques for detecting lymph node metastases were comparable (Youden Index: J = 0.56 for CT and J = 0.50 for 99mTc-tetrofosmin scintigraphy). 99mTc- tetrofosmin scintigraphy is a useful complement to CT for staging laryngeal tumors, especially for detecting metastatic lymph nodes and distant metastases. © Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. |
| Keywords: |
adult; clinical article; controlled study; aged; aged, 80 and over; middle aged; squamous cell carcinoma; laryngeal neoplasms; comparative study; cancer staging; methodology; lymph node metastasis; staging; lymph nodes; lymphatic metastasis; neoplasm staging; sensitivity and specificity; radiopharmaceuticals; sensitivity analysis; reproducibility; reproducibility of results; metastasis; computer assisted tomography; tomography, x-ray computed; pathology; imaging system; evaluation; lymph node; neoplasm metastasis; radiopharmaceutical agent; scintiscanning; intermethod comparison; neck; image processing, computer-assisted; image processing; single photon emission computer tomography; mediastinum; larynx cancer; radionuclide imaging; tetrofosmin tc 99m; organophosphorus compounds; organotechnetium compounds; tomography, emission-computed, single-photon; larynx tumor; organophosphorus compound; technetium complex; 99mtc-tetrofosmin scintigraphy; laryngeal cancer; technetium tc 99m 1,2 bis(bis(2 ethoxyethyl)phosphino)ethane; technetium tc 99m 1,2-bis(bis(2-ethoxyethyl)phosphino)ethane; esophagus scintiscanning
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