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It was of interest to determine the impact of FDG-PET/CT on general therapy management and radiotherapy (RT) planning in patients with stage IV head and neck tumours. The study was conducted prospectively between March 2006 and March 2007 in 35 patients with histologically confirmed, locally advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. Prior to primary radiochemotherapy, whole-body and head/neck FDG-PET/CT was performed. The FDG-PET information was integrated into RT planning. By comparison with anatomical imaging, the FDG-PET/CT yielded the following additional information: distant metastases in 17.1% (6/35), second primary tumours in 11.4% (4/35), and changes in nodal status based on metabolic activity, i.e. upstaging in 34.3% (12/35) or downstaging in 22.9% (8/35). As a result, treatment strategy was changed from curative to palliative in six patients, and additional curative therapy was implemented following exclusion of distant metastases in two patients with a simultaneous local second primary tumour. The discordant nodal status found with head/neck FDG-PET/CT compared with anatomical imaging led to modification of radiotherapy volume and dose in 20 patients (57.1%). From the radiotherapist's perspective FDG-PET/CT is therefore useful and justifiable in the management of stage IV head and neck tumours.

Photodocumentation of the face before aesthetic or plastic surgery is of fundamental importance for at least three reasons: it is an aid to surgical planning, it can be used for illustrative purposes in discussions with the patient, and it satisfies medico-legal requirements for documentation. To achieve efficient and economic documentation of preoperative and postoperative status in aesthetic and reconstructive plastic procedures, the mirror system described here permits the required planes to be documented in a single photograph. The simple and inexpensive technical design allows six planes to be documented in constant and, therefore, comparable quality. Because the patient's data are also documented with the photographic record, the potential for mistaken patient identity is eliminated. No technical training is needed to operate the device and it can, therefore, be readily used by ancillary medical personnel. In a typical nasal surgery department performing about 150 rhinoplasty procedures per annum, the mirror system offers cost and time savings generated as a result of reducing the documentation burden by 750 photographs.