Impact of ¹⁸F-FDG PET on management in patients with recurrent head and neck cancer: a meta-analysis

Objective Head and neck cancers (HNC) comprise malignancies occurring in the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, and salivary glands. This meta-analysis assessed the effect of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET on the management of recurrent HNC. Methods We conducted systematic reviews focused on the role of FDG PET in managing recurrent HNC. We defined management change as the percentage of patients whose treatment was altered following FDG PET results relative to those assessed with this imaging technique. Results We included seven studies encompassing 444 patients. The studies evaluated the role of FDG PET in detecting recurrence or metastasis in HNC patients by examining the rates of management change, with a pooled effect of 26.6%. Conclusion The findings from our meta-analysis indicate that FDG PET substantially affects the management of patients with recurrent HNC. These outcomes align with current guidelines recommending the use of FDG PET under these circumstances.