Initial clinical results of simultaneous super(18)F-FDG PET/MRI in comparison to super(18)F-FDG PET/CT in patients with head and neck cancer

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic capability of simultaneous super(18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/MRI compared to super(18)F-FDG PET/CT as well as their single components in head and neck cancer patients. Methods: In a prospective study 1...

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Published in:European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging 2014-04, Vol.41 (4), p.639-648
Main Authors: Kubiessa, K, Purz, S, Gawlitza, M, Kuehn, A, Fuchs, J, Steinhoff, K G, Boehm, A, Sabri, O, Kluge, R, Kahn, T, Stumpp, P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Computed tomography
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Summary:Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic capability of simultaneous super(18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/MRI compared to super(18)F-FDG PET/CT as well as their single components in head and neck cancer patients. Methods: In a prospective study 17 patients underwent super(18)F-FDG PET/CT for staging or follow-up and an additional super(18)F-FDG PET/MRI scan with whole-body imaging and dedicated examination of the neck. MRI, CT and PET images as well as PET/MRI and PET/CT examinations were evaluated independently and in a blinded fashion by two reader groups. Results were compared with the reference standard (final diagnosis determined in consensus using all available data including histology and follow-up). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated. Results: A total of 23 malignant tumours were found with the reference standard. PET/CT showed a sensitivity of 82.7 %, a specificity of 87.3 %, a PPV of 73.2 % and a NPV of 92.4 %. Corresponding values for PET/MRI were 80.5, 88.2, 75.6 and 92.5 %. No statistically significant difference in diagnostic capability could be found between PET/CT and PET/MRI. Evaluation of the PET part from PET/CT revealed highest sensitivity of 95.7 %, and MRI showed best specificity of 96.4 %. There was a high inter-rater agreement in all modalities (Cohen's kappa 0.61-0.82). Conclusion: PET/MRI of patients with head and neck cancer yielded good diagnostic capability, similar to PET/CT. Further studies on larger cohorts to prove these first results seem justified.
ISSN:1619-7070
1619-7089
DOI:10.1007/s00259-013-2633-2