18FDG-PET/CT for the detection of regional nodal metastasis in patients with primary head and neck cancer before treatment: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the role of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)FDG-PET/CT) in the detection of regional nodal metastasis in patients with primary head and neck cancer before treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Studies about (18)FDG-PET/CT for the detection of regional nodal metastasis in patients with primary HNC were systematically searched in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and EBM Review databases from January 1, 2000 to July 25, 2012. A software called "Stata 12.0" was used to obtain pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio for PET/CT. We also calculated hierarchic summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) curves and area under the curves.

RESULTS

14 articles (742 patients) fulfilled all inclusion criteria. The pooled sensitivity, and specificity with 95% confidence interval for PET/CT on a per-neck-side analysis were 0.84 (0.77-0.89) and 0.84 (0.78-0.89). The corresponding values for PET/CT on a per-nodal-level analysis 0.84 (0.78-0.88) and 0.96 (0.94-0.98).

CONCLUSIONS

(18)FDG-PET/CT had good diagnostic performance for the detection of regional nodal metastasis in patients with primary head and neck cancer before treatment.