PET/CT value in diagnosis of primary tumor on cervical lymp node metastasis of unknown primary tumor

Abstract

Purpose: We conduct this survey to evaluate the role of PET/CT and to describe characteristic of primary tumor on CUP patients.

Subject and method: Patients was diagnosed with cervical lymp node metastasis of CUP based on appropriate criteria and had perform PET CT in 175 Military Hospital, Cross-sectional study.

Results: 59 patients with cervical lymp node metastasis of CUP had PET/CT scan, the mean age of patients was 53.6±13.3. There were 38/59 patients (64.4%) detected primary tumor by PET/CT, however, only 32/38 patients were confirmed as malignant (by pathology). In 5/59 patients, PET/CT was not suggest the primary tumor but then identified by orther methods. The sensitivity and specificity of PET/CT were 86.5%, 84.3%, respectively. The location of the primary tumor in 38 patients was suggest by PET/CT, mainly in head and neck area (85.7%).

Conclusion: PET/CT is a high role diagnose method in suggest primary tumor for cervical lymp node metastasis of unknown primary tumor. Primary tumors often occur in the head and neck area.