Abstract
1291
Introduction: Persistent controversy exists in how and when head and neck cancer patients should undergo surveillance imaging.
Objectives: To evaluate if the type of imaging modality used in surveillance imaging impacts cancer specific survival. Design, Setting, and Participants: Retrospective study of National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program Medicare linked data in patients with the three most common head and neck malignancies, oral cavity, oropharynx and larynx. Main Outcomes and Measures: Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for cancer-specific survival were estimated for patients diagnosed as having any of these cancers between 2006-2015.
Results: Significant improvement in cancer specific survival was found in laryngeal cancer patients who had PET/CT surveillance during the first six months, compared to those who underwent CT (HR 1.93; 95% CI, 1.23-3.03). There was no statistically significant difference in cancer specific survival of patients with oral cavity or oropharyngeal malignancies based on type of surveillance imaging utilized.
Conclusions: There may be benefit to utilization of different imaging modalities based on site of primary lesion. Specifically patients with laryngeal cancer have an association of improved survival with PET/CT based surveillance imaging.