Advantages and Limitations of 18F-FDG PET/MRI in the Application of Head and Neck Cancer

Positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) integrates the functional metabolic imaging capabilities of positron emission tomography (PET) with the multi-sequence, multi-parametric, and high soft-tissue resolution imaging of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Its clinical application in head and neck cancer (HNC) is increasingly widespread. This article reviews literature primarily focused on comparative studies between 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and PET/MRI, highlighting the advantages and limitations of 18F-FDG PET/MRI in the diagnosis, staging, detection of unknown primary tumors in cervical lymph node metastasis, treatment response evaluation, and prognostic assessment of HNC. The aim is to facilitate informed clinical decision-making regarding the selection of PET/MRI versus PET/CT examinations.