The emerging role of positron emission tomography (PET) in the management of photon radiotherapy-induced vasculitis in head and neck cancer patients

Purpose While radiotherapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC) has made recent strides, RT-induced vasculitis continues to adversely affect long-term patient outcomes. Guidelines for managing this complication remain scarce, supporting the need for a sensitive imaging modality in post-treatment evaluations. In this review, we discuss the current literature regarding 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and 18 F-sodium fluoride (NaF-PET) in evaluating RT-induced vasculitis in HNC patients, highlighting several arenas of evolving clinical significance: (1) early recognition and standardized evaluation of RT-induced vasculitis, and (2) potential for a multifaceted diagnostic tool to stratify cardiovascular risk in HNC patients. Methods Numerous databases, including, but not limited to, Google Scholar and PubMed, were utilized to compile a body of literature regarding PET imaging of RT-induced vasculitis in HNC and related malignancies. Results Multiple studies have established the clinical capabilities of FDG-PET/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) for detection and management of RT-induced vasculitis in HNC patients, while NaF-PET/CT remains under investigation. Inflammatory vascular stages may be best analyzed by FDG-PET/CT, while vascular microcalcification and atherosclerotic disease may be supplementally assessed by the unique properties of NaF-PET/CT. With these modalities detecting primary stages of more detrimental vascular complications, PET imaging may carry several advantages over conventional, structural techniques. Conclusion FDG-PET/CT and NaF-PET/CT hold significant potential as preliminary diagnostic tools in monitoring early inflammation and atherosclerotic plaque development, warranting further research and attention. Applying these techniques in this context may foster proactive and consistent assessments of RT-induced vasculitis in HNC patients, mitigating potential cardiovascular risks through better-informed treatment decisions.