Application of 18F-FDG PET/CT for the diagnosis of cervical cancer

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of 18F-fluorode-oxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT for staging and re-staging cervical cancer cases. Methods: This retrospective study included 88 patients. Of the 88 patients, 19 were primary cervical cancer, 11 were benign cervical tumor and 58 were cervical cancer patients with post-treatment surveillance. All had either whole body or abdominal-pelvic FDG PET/CT imaging. The diagnosis was established according to the pathologic results of surgery or biopsy, and(or) multi-modality imaging and clinical follow-up for at least six months. Results: For initial diagnosis of cervical cancer, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of FDG PET/CT were 17/19 (89.5%), 10/11 (90.9%) and 27/30(90.0%) respectively. For re-staging cervical cancer, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of FDG PET/CT were 10/11 (90. 9%), 47/47 (100. 0%) and 57/58 (98.3%) respectively. In all, 41 had metastases. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of FDG PET/ CT detecting metastases were 92.7%, 88.9% and 90.9% respectively. Of the metastatic sites, 66.3% were abdominal-pelvic lymph nodes, 26.8% of the metastatic lymph nodes were detected with diameters less than 1.0 cm. Twenty-two of twenty seven (28.6%) patients were identified to have extra-pelvic lesions after PET/CT and were then changed their treatment plans. Conclusions: 18F-FDG PET/CT is useful in staging and re-staging cervical cancer patients. PET/CT is of great value in identifying small lesions and also in detecting extra-pelvic lesions. (authors)