Accuracy of whole-body PET and PET-CT in initial M staging of head and neck cancer: a meta-analysis

Head Neck. 2011 Jan;33(1):87-94. doi: 10.1002/hed.21400.

Abstract

Background: A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of whole-body positron emission tomography (PET) and PET-CT in initial M staging of head and neck cancer.

Methods: After a systematic review of English language studies, sensitivity, specificity, and other measures of whole-body PET and PET-CT were pooled. Summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves were also used to summarize overall test performance.

Results: Eight PET and 7 PET-CT studies were identified. The pooled sensitivity estimates for PET and PET-CT were 0.848 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.776-0.905) and 0.875 (95% CI, 0.787-0.936). The pooled specificity estimates were 0.952 (95% CI, 0.933-0.967) and 0.950 (95% CI, 0.931-0.964). The Q* index estimates for PET-CT (0.9409) were not significantly higher than for PET (0.9154; p > .05).

Conclusion: Whole-body PET and PET-CT have good diagnostic performance in initial M staging of head and neck cancer; although PET-CT tends to have higher accuracy than PET.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Staging / methods*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
  • Radiographic Image Enhancement
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
  • Whole Body Imaging*

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals