Anatomical Body Regions Examined in Head & Neck PET-CT Studies – is it Necessary to Examine Below the Diaphragm in Staging and Restaging Assessments?
Dual modality imaging in Nuclear Medicine (eg PET-CT) introduces additional radiation doses to patients. Longer scanning times are also required to obtain the data required for dual modality acquisition. With these two factors in mind, the anatomical “field of interest” plays an important role in optimizing scanning time but not at the cost of missing anatomical and pathological scanning opportunities.
This retrospective study reviews the Head & Neck studies performed at the Royal Brisbane Hospital during 2006/2007. This study reviews the findings of staging and restaging PET-CT assessments of typical naso-oro-pharyngeal (ENT) carcinomas. In particular this study focused on analysis of the number of ‘significant’ findings noted in a sub-diaphragmatic distribution. The purpose of the study was to see whether it was necessary to acquire and study images below the diaphragm in typical ENT carcinomas. With optimization of scanning regions, by reduction of studied “field of views”, the goal would be to reduce CT radiation doses and scanning times without missing ‘significant pathology’.