Prevalence of Synchronous and Metachronous Oral Primary Malignancies with PET/CT Imaging in a Regional Cancer Center—A Retrospective Study

Background: While MPMNs are increasingly encountered in oncology, the diagnostic performance of FDG-PET/CT for these cases necessitates further elucidation. Objective: To assess the prevalence of synchronous and metachronous oral primary malignancies with PET/CT imaging. Methods: A total of 2440 FDG-PET/CT reports of cancer patients were analyzed retrospectively from January 2021 to June 2023 in a regional cancer center. The prevalence of synchronous and metachronous oral primary malignancies was calculated. Results: Out of 2440, 67 oral cancer patients were identified. The prevalence of synchronous and metachronous oral primaries is 2.98% and 10.4%, respectively. The common site for synchronous and metachronous primary malignancies was the tongue, followed by the buccal mucosa and alveolar ridges. Conclusion: PET/CT has recently become more easily available and accessible in most parts of the country. Appropriate utilization of this diagnostic modality with a keen look out for additional neoplasms in patients with known primary cancer can help in early diagnosis, management protocol, and improving prognosis for these cases.