Scintigraphic search for metastases in patients with neoplasms of the head and neck
Brauneis, J.; Schröder, M.; Laskawi, R.; Wild, L.; Schicha, H.
Hno 36(11): 445-451
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0017-6192 PMID: 3235360 Document Number: 320290
Pretherapeutic staging is essential for the management of head and neck cancer. The diagnostic value of liver, brain and bone scanning was estimated by a retrospective study of 281 patients. Bone and liver scans are useful for detecting distant metastases from head and neck cancer. Brain scanning should be replaced by computed tomography, if there is clinical suspicion of intracerebral metastases. Nowadays ultrasound examination of the liver is more useful than liver scans. Thus, bone scanning remains the only radioisotope method used in the routine pretherapeutic staging of head and neck cancer. Chest X-ray, abdominal ultrasound examination and bone scans are adequate methods for the detection of metastases. The management of malignant lymphoma needs a special and more detailed diagnostic approach.