It shows that: (1) every primary HNSCC tumor and lymph nodes were visually detectable with both tracers, but with different uptake patterns; (2) 68Ga-NODAGA-RGD uptake was heterogeneous with a low target-to-background ratio while 18F-FDG uptake is mostly homogeneous with higher target-to-background ratio; and (3) 68Ga-NODAGA-RGD uptake was not related to tumor grade, p16, or HPV status. This evidence concerns the gene SMUG1 and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.