Objective: PET/CT is gaining acceptance in staging head and neck tumors in routine practice. Capability of PET/CT to scan whole body, affinity to head and neck tumors and accurate characterization of lymph nodes makes staging easier with PET/CT. In this study, we investigated the importance of PET/CT in staging of head and neck tumors.

Materials and Methods: Nineteen patients with head and neck tumors (11 M, 8 F; mean: 50,4±17 years old) were included to the study. PET/CT results of patients were evaluated with follow-up results or histophology as the gold standard.

Results: The patients were presented as thyroid carcinoma 3, laryngeal carcinoma 3, etiology of lymphadenopathy 1, lip or palatal tumor 3, mass characterization 3, proximal esophagus carcinoma 2, parotis tumor 3 and facial malign melanoma 1 patient. PET/CT identified residual or recurrent tumor in 4 patients, mass in 9, lymph node invasion in 5 and in one patient no residual disease. In whole group total 11 lymph node invasion and 6 distant metastasis were identified. Primary site of patient who had lymph node metastasis weren't found with PET/CT.

Conclusion: Because of the capability of whole body definition and accurate lymph node staging of PET/CT and remarkable FDG affinity of head and neck tumors, PET/CT is a preferable imaging method. Considering general limitations and limitations which are specific to head and neck region of PET/CT; PET/CT can be used for staging and identification of head and neck tumors with high accuracy.