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Hybrid Imaging of the Head and Neck Region

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Nuclear Medicine Textbook

Abstract

The term head and neck cancer (HNC) generally encompasses malignant neoplasms of soft tissue origin of the oral cavity, lips, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, pharynx, larynx and salivary glands, as well as sarcomas arising in this region. The skin is sometimes included as well. About 95% are squamous cell carcinomas (or variants) arising from the mucosa or adenocarcinomas from the associated secretory glands [1]. The major risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) are a history of tobacco and alcohol use; risk is increased when either of these factors is present individually, but that risk is multiplied when both factors are present in combination [2]. Over the past decade, the importance of infection by the human papillomavirus (HPV) in the pathogenesis of oropharyngeal cancers has been recognized [3], and Epstein-Barr virus has emerged as an important predisposing condition for the development of non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx [4].

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Correspondence to Alejandro Fernández .

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Fernández, A., Camacho, V. (2019). Hybrid Imaging of the Head and Neck Region. In: Volterrani, D., Erba, P.A., Carrió, I., Strauss, H.W., Mariani, G. (eds) Nuclear Medicine Textbook. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95564-3_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95564-3_19

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