Association between maximum standarised uptake value (SUV) and local control in patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma treated with radiotherapy

OBJECTIVE:To analyse the prognostic ability of the maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax) on local disease control in patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma treated with radiotherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS:Retrospective study of 105 patients with oropharyngeal carcinomas treated with radiotherapy, including chemo- and bio-radiotherapy, and who had a PET-CT scan prior to the start of treatment. RESULT:Patients with a SUVmax value higher than 17.2 at the primary tumour site had a significantly higher risk of local recurrence. The 5-year local recurrence-free survival for patients with SUVmax less than or equal to 17.2 (n = 71) was 86.5% (95% CI 78.2-94.7 %), and for patients with SUVmax greater than 17.2 (n = 34) it was 55.8% (95% CI 36.0-75.6 %) (P = 0.0001). This difference in local control was maintained regardless of patients' HPV status. Specific survival was similarly lower for patients with a SUV greater than 17.2. The 5-year specific survival for patients with SUVmax greater than 17.2 was 39.5% (95% CI: 20.6-58.3 %), significantly shorter than that of patients with SUVmax equal to or less than 17.2, which was 77.3% (95% CI: 66.9-87.6 %) (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS:Patients with oropharyngeal carcinomas treated with radiotherapy with a SUVmax greater than 17.2 at the level of the primary tumour site had a significantly higher risk of local recurrence.