18F-FDG-PET/CT predicts survival in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

We investigated the relationship between overall survival of patients and pretreatment [F-18]-2-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18-FDG) uptake, assessed by positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET/CT) in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Thirty-one patients who were newly diagnosed as resectable hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma underwent pretreatment F-18-FDG-PET/CT. We used the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) as F-18-FDG uptake. Overall survival rate was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. The median SUVmax was 11.53 (range 2.49-22.33). Patients with SUVmax a parts per thousand yen 13 significantly exhibited shorter overall survival in univariate analysis (p < 0.01). Moreover, by Cox proportional hazards model of multivariate analysis, SUVmax a parts per thousand yen 13 was a significant prognostic factor independent of clinical T and N classification, and treatment group (p < 0.02). These results suggested that SUVmax obtained by pretreatment F-18-FDG PET/CT assessment is an important prognostic factor in patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.