Characteristics of PET/CT uptake in the salivary glands in T1N0M0-T2N0M0 glottic cancer.

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to identify factors influencing salivary gland uptake in fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT).

Subjects and methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients aged 20-95 years diagnosed with T1N0M0 or T2N0M0 glottic carcinoma between July 2019 and March 2025, who underwent PET/CT for initial staging and radiotherapy planning. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were measured and compared based on gender, smoking history, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, stage, and primary tumor site.

Results: A total of 61 patients were included (mean age, 68.3±12.4 years; 57 male, 4 female). The cohort included 41 patients with T1N0M0 and 20 with T2N0M0 disease. Hypertension status was negative in 32, positive in 28, and unknown in 1; diabetes status was negative in 54, positive in 6, and unknown in 1; dyslipidemia status was negative in 51, positive in 9, and unknown in 1. Smoking history was negative in 7, positive in 53, and unknown in 1. Primary tumor accumulation was observed in 44 patients, while 17 showed no uptake at the primary site. The mean SUVmax of the right submandibular gland was 3.16±0.70 on the left, it was 3.05±0.76. In the right gland, median SUVmax was significantly higher in patients without hypertension 3.350 than in those with hypertension 2.725; P<0.01). In the left gland, median SUVmax was significantly higher in patients without hypertension 3.18 than in those with hypertension 2.56; P<0.01.

Conclusion: In T1N0M0-T2N0M0 glottic carcinoma, ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in the submandibular glands is reduced in patients with hypertension.