Objective: The objective of this study was to assess whether the ratio of upper abdomen (UA) to lower abdomen (LA) (relative to the umbilicus) standardized fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose uptake, as measured by preoperative positron emission tomography and computed tomography, is predictive of recurrence, survival, and suboptimal cytoreduction (residual tumor >1.0 cm) in advanced-stage ovarian cancer (AOC).
Methods: Positron emission tomography/computed tomography before surgical staging was performed in 159 AOC patients. The ratio between the highest maximum standardized uptake value (SUV(max)) in the UA and the LA was expressed as UA/LA SUV(max). Clinicopathological characteristics and follow-up information were collected retrospectively. Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to identify prognostic factors for recurrence and survival. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of suboptimal cytoreduction.
Results: The median age and follow-up period were 55 years (range, 27-80 years) and 32 months (range, 1-92 months), respectively; 133 and 26 patients had stage III and IV disease, respectively. There were 120 and 54 cases of recurrence and disease-specific death, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that recurrence was associated significantly with high UA/LA SUV(max) (P < 0.05; hazard ratio [HR], 4.902; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.521-9.531) and suboptimal cytoreduction (P < 0.05; HR, 2.431; 95% CI, 1.561-3.788), and that disease-specific death was significantly associated with high UA/LA SUV(max) (P < 0.05; HR, 2.777; 95% CI, 1.270-6.075), suboptimal cytoreduction (P < 0.05; HR, 1.951; 95% CI, 1.080-3.524), and histology (P < 0.05; HR, 4.134; 95% CI, 1.676-10.196). Upper abdomen/lower abdomen SUV(max) was the only independent predictor of suboptimal cytoreduction (P < 0.05; odds ratio, 4.644; 95% CI, 1.676-12.862).
Conclusions: High preoperative UA/LA SUV(max) was significantly associated with poor prognosis and may be predictive of suboptimal cytoreduction in AOC. This parameter may be considered in the treatment of AOC patients.