SUV^sub max^ on FDG-PET is a predictor of prognosis in patients with maxillary sinus cancer

Purpose Our aim was to determine whether the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV^sub max^) of the primary lesion demonstrated by [^sup 18^F]-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) is associated with the prognosis of maxillary sinus cancer. Materials and methods The relationships of clinicopathological factors including age, T stage, N stage, histologic type, treatment strategy, and primary tumor SUV^sub max^ with progression-free (PFS) and overall (OS) survival were evaluated using the log-rank test and Cox method in 31 patients with maxillary sinus cancer before combined superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy using high-dose cisplatin with concurrent radiotherapy, or radiotherapy alone. Results The median duration of follow-up was 55.4 (range 9.7-72.6) months. PFS and OS of patients exhibiting a high SUV^sub max^ ([greater than or equal to]16 and [greater than or equal to]17, respectively) for the primary tumor were significantly lower than those of patients for whom the primary tumor SUV^sub max^ was low (p = 0.0010 and p = 0.033, respectively). Multivariate analyses showed that T stage (p = 0.0049) and primary tumor SUV^sub max^ (p = 0.026) were independently prognostic of poorer PFS and that only primary tumor SUV^sub max^ (p = 0.049) was independently prognostic of poorer OS. Conclusion SUV^sub max^ of the primary tumor determined by FDG-PET/CT before treatment could be a good surrogate marker for prognostication of maxillary sinus cancer.