Role of PET/CT in the evaluation of cervical cancer

Gynecol Oncol. 2008 Sep;110(3 Suppl 2):S55-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2008.05.023. Epub 2008 Jul 29.

Abstract

PET imaging utilizes a dedicated camera system with multiple positron detector rings. PET/CT precisely aligns and combines metabolic PET mages with anatomical CT images, and is being increasingly preffered over PET scanning alone. FDG is the most widely used radiotracer in the management of cancer patients, and the prototypical PET/CT protocol used in other cancers can also be applied to the management of cervical carcinoma patients. The applications of PET/CT in cervical cancer patients include: assessing local tumor extension (information on metabolic tumor activity and possible endometrial involvement), evaluating pelvic nodal involvement (even in cases with negative CT or MRI studies), detection of distant metastases (PET/CT should be the first imaging technique used to evaluate extrapelvic disease before pelvic exenteration), radiation therapy planning (in patiens with PET scans positive for lymph nodes), identification of persistent/recurrent disease (especially in assessing response to neoadjuvant therapy and prognosis (with an inverse response-survival relationship.

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Humans
  • Lymph Nodes / diagnostic imaging
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods
  • Radiopharmaceuticals*
  • Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / radiotherapy

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18