Erik Supratik Mittra MD, PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Andrei Iagaru MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Nancy Jane Fischbein MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Quynh-Thu Xuan Le MD, Abstract Co-Author: Grant, GlaxoSmithKline plc

Sanjiv Sam Gambhir MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Board of Directors, Lumera Corporation Stockholder, Lumera Corporation Stockholder, Pfizer Inc Consultant, Spectrum Dynamics Ltd Stockholder, Spectrum Dynamics Ltd Grant, Johnson & Johnson (ALZA Corporation) Committee member, Amgen Inc Scientific Advisory Board, Novartis AG (Chiron) Scientific Advisory Board, Siemens AG (PETNET Solutions) Royalties, Reed Elsevier Scientific Advisory Board, Genentech, Inc Scientific Advisory Board, General Electric Company Grant, General Electric Company (Amersham plc) Research collaboration, GlaxoSmithKline plc Scientific Advisory Board, GlaxoSmithKline plc Scientific Advisory Board, Intronn Inc Research collaboration, Intronn Inc Grant, Intronn Inc Scientific Advisory Board, Lumen Therapeutics Consultant, MediGene AG Scientific Advisory Board, MediGene AG Consultant, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc Research collaboration, Pfizer Inc Grant, Pfizer Inc Consultant, Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV Scientific Advisory Board, Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV Consultant, Pathwork Diagnostics (Predicant Biosciences) Grant, Bayer AG Speaker, Siemens AG Scientific Advisory Board, Varian Medical Systems, Inc Scientific Advisory Board, VisualSonics Inc

Andrew Quon MD, Abstract Co-Author: Research grant, Genentech, Inc

This study seeks to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of PET/CT for the evaluation of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC), which has not been well described in the literature thus far.

This is a retrospective study of 25 patients (pts), all with biopsy proven NPC, who underwent PET/CT scanning between 8/05 and 12/06 at our institution. The pts included 7 females and ranged in age from 16 to 75 years-old (mean: 47 ± 14). They were imaged on a Discovery LS PET/CT unit (GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI) after a 6-hour fast with an administered dose of 18F-FDG between 8.1 – 20.0 mCi (mean: 14.3 ± 2.6). 15 pts had a single scan, 10 pts had 2 scans, and 1 pt had 3 scans. Of the 38 total scans, 6 were for staging, and 32 for re-staging. Re-interpretation of imaging studies for accuracy and data analysis from medical records was performed. Sensitivity and specificity was calculated using a combination of pathology results (48%) or clinical follow-up (64%) as the gold standard. Ninety-five percent (95%) confidence interval (CI) estimations were performed using the Wilson score method.

The overall calculated sensitivity of PET/CT for NPC was 86% (CI: 64.0 – 96.4) and the specificity was 80% (CI: 51.4 – 94.7). For the 6 staging scans only, the sensitivity was 83% (CI: 36.5 – 99.1) while the specificity was incalculable as there were no true negatives. For the 32 re-staging scans only, the sensitivity was 88% (CI: 60.4 – 97.8) and the specificity 80% (CI: 51.4 – 94.7). These values were based on a per-patient analysis.

This study demonstrates the high sensitivity and specificity of concurrent PET/CT for the detection of NPC overall and at staging and restaging. These values support the continued application of concurrent PET/CT for the evaluation and management planning for NPC. Similar analysis of other cancers of the head and neck is warranted to further understand the role of PET/CT in malignancy of this region.

Concurrent PET/CT demonstrates a high sensitivity and specificity for the staging and re-staging of patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Mittra, E, Iagaru, A, Fischbein, N, Le, Q, Gambhir, S, Quon, A, 18F-FDG PET/CT in Evaluation of Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.  Radiological Society of North America 2007 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2007 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2007/5012472.html