Glucose Metabolism and Its Complicated Relationship with Tumor Growth and Perfusion in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Objective To determine the relationship between tumor glucose metabolism and tumor blood flow (TBF) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methods We retrospectively analyzed 57 HNSCC patients. Tumor glucose metabolism was assessed by maximum and mean standardized uptake values (SUVmax and SUVmean) obtained by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography. TBF values were obtained by arterial spin labeling with 3-tesla MRI. The correlations between both SUVs and TBF were assessed in the total series and among patients divided by T-stage (T1–T3 and T4 groups) and tumor location (pharynx/oral cavity and sinonasal cavity groups). Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated for significant correlations. Results Significant correlations were detected: a negative correlation in the advanced T-stage group (TBF and SUV max: r, −0.61, SUVmean: r, −0.62), a positive correlation in the non-advanced T-stage pharynx/oral cavity group (TBF and SUVmax: r, 0.70, SUVmean: r, 0.73), a negative correlation in the advanced T-stage pharynx/oral cavity group (TBF and SUVmax: r, −0.62, SUVmean: r, −0.65), and a negative correlation in the advanced T-stage sinonasal cavity group (TBF and SUVmax: r, −0.61, SUVmean: r, −0.65). Conclusion Significant correlations between glucose uptake and TBF in HNSCC were revealed by the division of T-stage and tumor location.