Objectives: Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET/MRI has been used in the diagnosis of head and neck carcinoma. The aim of this study was to systematically review and perform a meta-analysis of published data on the performance of F-PET/MRI in the diagnosis of head and neck carcinoma.
Materials and methods: We conducted a comprehensive review of the literature on the role of soft-based fusion and integrated 18F-FDG PET/MRI in the diagnosis of head and neck carcinoma. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of soft-based fusion and integrated 18F-FDG PET/MRI in the diagnosis of head and neck carcinoma were calculated.
Results: Ten studies comprising 421 patients, which included 1879 head and neck primary carcinoma and metastatic lesions, were included in this meta-analysis. 18F-FDG PET/MRI had a pooled sensitivity of 91%, a pooled specificity of 63%, and an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of 0.96 on a per lesion-based analysis in detecting head and neck carcinoma lesions. Soft-based fusion and integrated 18F-FDG PET/MRI had a pooled sensitivity of 92 and 90%, a pooled specificity of 53 and 87%, and an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of 0.95 and 0.96, respectively, on a per lesion-based analysis in detecting head and neck carcinoma lesions.
Conclusion: 18F-FDG PET/MRI demonstrated high sensitivity and moderate specificity in the diagnosis of head and neck carcinoma lesions. 18F-FDG PET/MRI is an accurate method in the diagnosis of head and neck carcinoma.