Oral findings during follow-up of nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma treatment: A case report

Abstract

A 50-year-old woman with a long history of nasopharyngeal cancer (T2N2M0, squamous cell carcinoma) underwent chemoradiotherapy and surgery. In the past, to prevent tumor recurrence or metastasis, she underwent concurrent chemoradiotherapy or neck dissection. However, during a follow-up 10\u2009years after the surgery, intense F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose uptake was detected in the oral area (SUVmax 6.0). A biopsy of the area with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose uptake revealed pathological inflammation. Radiography showed the presence of a wisdom tooth, located at the F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation site, and pericoronitis of this tooth was detected. Our findings indicate the importance of considering the effect of inflammatory conditions, such as periodontal disease, in using F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography during follow-up after head and neck cancer treatment.