Maximum standardized uptake value in ¹¹C-methionine positron emission tomography may predict the prognosis of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

The present study aimed to elucidate the correlation between the uptake of ¹¹C-methionine (MET) by a primary tumor and the survival of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This study enrolled 31 patients who underwent radical surgery for OSCC. The patients underwent pretreatment MET-positron emission tomography (PET) scanning. We analyzed correlations between the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV_max) of MET-PET in a primary tumor and the clinicopathological features. Further, we compared overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and loco-regional recurrence (LRR) rates between the two groups according to SUV_max of MET-PET. SUV_max of MET-PET in a primary tumor was higher in patients with advanced T-classification and advanced clinical stage, with significant differences (P = 0.001 and P = 0.016, respectively). The patients with SUV_max of MET-PET ≥ 4.4 showed significantly lower DSS rates and higher LRR rates than those with SUV_max of < 4.4 (P = 0.015 and P = 0.016, respectively). SUV_max of MET-PET and OS rates showed no significant correlation (P = 0.073). The present study revealed that SUV_max of MET-PET may predict clinical outcomes and prognosis in patients with OSCC who underwent radical surgery.