Value of Whole Body 18f-Fluoro-2-Deoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography in the Evaluation of Recurrent Cervical Cancer

To evaluate the clinical value of whole body positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose ( FDG) in recurrent cervical cancer, the records of 20 patients who underwent FDG-PET scans were reviewed to detect local recurrence, pelvic/para-aortic lymph node metastases and distal metastases. The final diagnosis was based on operative, histopathological findings or clinical follow-up for longer than one year. FDG-PET accurately detected 18 patients with recurrent diseases (12 patients with local recurrences, 16 patients with pelvic lymph node metastases, 14 patients with para-aortic lymph node metastases and 4 patients with distal metastases Of other sites). However, 2 patients with local recurrences had false-negative FDG-PET results as well as I patient without local recurrence and I patient without pelvic lymph node metastases who had false- positive FDG-PET results. The overall sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET for patients were 90% and 100%, for local recurrence were 86% and 92%, for pelvic lymph node metastases were 100% and 94%, for para-aortic lymph node metastases were 100% and 100% and for distal metastases were 100% and 100%, respectively. In conclusion, whole body FDG- PET is a useful diagnostic tool in the evaluation of recurrent cervical cancer. It appears to be promising for detecting recurrent cervical cancer, lymph node metastases and distal metastases