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Radiological staging of the chest and abdomen in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma – are computed tomography and ultrasound necessary?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

E. L. K. Nilssen ,
P. Murthy ,
L. McClymont  and
S. Denholm
E. L. K. Nilssen*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery,Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, UK.
P. Murthy
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery,Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, UK.
L. McClymont
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery,Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, UK.
S. Denholm
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery,Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, UK.
*
Address for correspondence: E. L. K. Nilssen, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9SY.
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Abstract

The need for, and choice of, radiological staging investigations for distant metastases in the management of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is a contentious issue. To address this problem a retrospective audit of routine computerized tomography (CT) and ultrasound scanning of the chest and abdomen respectively was undertaken. The records of 103 patients who, over a six and a half year period, underwent major surgery for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma were reviewed. A total of 57 patients (59 per cent) had CT scanning of the chest of whom two were identified as having synchronous tumours. In both cases, the lesions were identified on chest X-ray prior to scanning. Seventy patients (68 per cent) had routine ultrasound scanning of the abdomen. In none of these was metastatic disease identified. As a result of the audit findings routine CT and ultrasound scanning of the chest and abdomen has been discontinued.

Keywords

Neoplasm stagingCarcinoma, squamous cellRadiology

Information

Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 113 , Issue 2 , February 1999 , pp. 152 - 154
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1999

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