Physical examination and anatomical imaging frequently detect head and neck disease and often more sophisticated methods are not necessary. However, lymph node involvement is a significant risk factor and an important prognostic indicator. Surgery and radiotherapy alters the normal anatomy and makes detection of residual or recurrent disease difficult.
		PET can diagnoses malignant nodes from normal and normal reactive nodes. PET can stage the extent of disease, even lymph node involvement. PET can monitor for recurrence and detection of residual disease following the initial therapy. Altered anatomy does not present a difficulty for PET in disease detection.