18F-FDG PET/CT versus CT/MR imaging for detection of neck lymph node metastasis in palpably node-negative oral cavity cancer

Subclinical lymph node (LN) metastasis is associated with poor survival outcome in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCC), which alleges elective neck LN dissection. Preoperative detection of metastatic LNs may improve prognosis and proper management of OCC. We examined the clinical usefulness of fluorine 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) for the detection of occult neck LN metastasis...