Role of the integrated FDG PET/CT in the surgical management of patients with high risk clinical early stage endometrial cancer: detection of pelvic nodal metastases. Gynecol Oncol. 2009;115:231-235. [PMID: 19695685 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2009.07.020]

18F-FDG PET/MRI and 18F-FDG PET/CT for the Management of Gynecological Malignancies: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature

OBJECTIVE

Positron emission tomography with 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18] fluoro- D-glucose integrated with computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (18F-FDG PET/MRI) has emerged as a promising tool for managing various types of cancer. This review study was conducted to investigate the role of 18F- FDG PET/CT and FDG PET/MRI in the management of gynecological malignancies.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched for relevant articles in the three databases PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science.

SELECTION CRITERIA

All studies reporting data on the FDG PET/CT and FDG PET MRI in the management of gynecological cancer, performed anywhere in the world and published exclusively in the English language, were included in the present study.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used the EndNote software (EndNote X8.1, Thomson Reuters) to list the studies and screen them on the basis of the inclusion criteria. Data, including first author, publication year, sample size, clinical application, imaging type, and main result, were extracted and tabulated in Excel. The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of the modalities were extracted and summarized.

MAIN RESULTS

After screening 988 records, 166 studies published between 2004 and 2022 were included, covering various methodologies. Studies were divided into the following five categories: the role of FDG PET/CT and FDG-PET/MRI in the management of: (a) endometrial cancer (n = 30); (b) ovarian cancer (n = 60); (c) cervical cancer (n = 50); (d) vulvar and vagina cancers (n = 12); and (e) gynecological cancers (n = 14).

CONCLUSIONS

FDG PET/CT and FDG PET/MRI have demonstrated potential as non-invasive imaging tools for enhancing the management of gynecological malignancies. Nevertheless, certain associated challenges warrant attention.

Prognostic Value of Preoperative Imaging: Comparing 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography to Computed Tomography Alone for Preoperative Planning in High-risk Histology Endometrial Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) increases the sensitivity for preoperative detection of lymph nodes and distant metastases in endometrial cancer. The objective of this investigation was to determine the prognostic value of preoperative PET-CT compared with computed tomography (CT) alone for high-risk endometrial carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of high-risk histology endometrial cancer from 2008 to 2015. Clinical variables including surgical procedure, preoperative imaging modality, and outcome were collected. Survival analysis was performed utilizing the Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards methodologies.

RESULTS

Of the 555 women treated for high-risk histology endometrial cancer, 88 (16%) had preoperative PET-CT, and 97 (17%) CT without PET available. PET-CT demonstrated positive findings in 37 women (42%) compared with 33 (30%) with preoperative CT alone. PET-CT had a positive predictive value of 96% for nodal metastasis compared with 60% for CT alone. The median follow-up time for the entire cohort was 59 months (range, 12 to 96 mo). Patients with a negative preoperative PET-CT (n=54) had a median progression-free survival (PFS) that was not reached, whereas the median PFS in the PET-CT positive group was 13 months (n=34). Women with a negative PET-CT had a longer median overall survival (OS) not yet reached compared with 34 months in the PET-CT positive cohort (hazard ratio, 2.4; P<0.001). CT findings did not associate with PFS or OS.

CONCLUSIONS

PET-CT demonstrated superior sensitivity for lymph node metastasis and detecting distant disease compared with CT. Preoperative PET-CT, whether positive or negative, offered OS and PFS prognostic value not observed with CT alone.

The Role of Positron Emission Tomography/Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Gynecological Malignancies

Accurate oncological staging for early detection is of utmost importance in patient care and increasing the overall patient survival outcome. Hybrid imaging in the form of positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography has been successfully implemented in oncological imaging and, where available, has been used consistently in patients with gynecologic malignancies. The implementation of PET/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enables high-quality assessment of gynecological malignancies by combining the diagnostic advantages of metabolic information of PET along with the high-resolution anatomical and functional information from the MRI to provide precise information about staging, recurrence, and metastases. This article will review the various applications of PET/MRI in gynecological cancer.

FDG-PET for Assessment of Endometrial and Vulvar Cancer

Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) provides a comprehensive whole body evaluation in patients with endometrial and vulvar cancer. Here, we discuss the role of FDG-PET/CT in defining the disease extent in patients presenting with these cancers. Detection of lymph node and distant metastases has implications for staging, treatment planning, and patient prognosis. Procedures for image acquisition and interpretation for optimum accuracy and essential elements that should be included in the PET-CT report are described. Common imaging pitfalls are presented and illustrated with examples.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Clinical Biomarkers for Preoperative Prediction of Lymph Node Metastasis in Endometrial Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

In endometrial carcinoma (EC), preoperative classification is based on histopathological criteria, with only moderate diagnostic performance for the risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM). So far, existing molecular classification systems have not been evaluated for prediction of LNM. Optimized use of clinical biomarkers as recommended by international guidelines might be a first step to improve tailored treatment, awaiting future molecular biomarkers.

AIM

To determine the diagnostic accuracy of preoperative clinical biomarkers for the prediction of LNM in endometrial cancer.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed according to the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines. Studies identified in MEDLINE and EMBASE were selected by two independent reviewers. Included biomarkers were based on recommended guidelines (cancer antigen 125 [Ca-125], lymphadenopathy on magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography [¹⁸FDG PET-CT]) or obtained by physical examination (body mass index, cervical cytology, blood cell counts). Pooled sensitivity, specificity, area under the curve (AUC), and likelihood ratios were calculated with bivariate random-effects meta-analysis. Likelihood ratios were classified into small (0.5-1.0 or 1-2.0), moderate (0.2-0.5 or 2.0-5.0) or large (0.1-0.2 or ≥ 5.0) impact.

RESULTS

Eighty-three studies, comprising 18,205 patients, were included. Elevated Ca-125 and thrombocytosis were associated with a moderate increase in risk of LNM; lymphadenopathy on imaging with a large increase. Normal Ca-125, cytology, and no lymphadenopathy on ¹⁸FDG PET-CT were associated with a moderate decrease. AUCs were above 0.75 for these biomarkers. Other biomarkers had an AUC <0.75 and incurred only small impact.

CONCLUSION

Ca-125, thrombocytosis, and imaging had a large and moderate impact on risk of LNM and could improve preoperative risk stratification.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Routine lymphadenectomy in clinical early-stage endometrial carcinoma does not improve outcome and is associated with 15%-20% surgery-related morbidity, underlining the need for improved preoperative risk stratification. New molecular classification systems are emerging but have not yet been evaluated for the prediction of lymph node metastasis. This article provides a robust overview of diagnostic performance of all clinical biomarkers recommended by international guidelines. Based on these, at least measurement of cancer antigen 125 serum level, assessment of thrombocytosis, and imaging focused on lymphadenopathy should complement current preoperative risk stratification in order to better stratify these patients by risk.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Three-Dimensional Transvaginal Ultrasonography Scanning for Preoperative Assessment of High Risk in Women with Endometrial Cancer

Background

To evaluate the diagnostic performance of MRI and 3D-TVS for assessment of deep myometrial invasion (MI), cervical involvement (CI), and Lymph node metastases (LNM) in endometrial cancer staging before surgery.

Material/Methods

From January 2016 to December 2017, we reviewed data from 314 women with endometrial cancer who underwent preoperative MRI and 3D-TVS before surgery. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy in detecting MI, CI, and LNM were estimated based on ultimate pathology results.

Results

The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of MRI in the diagnosis of MI were 89.19%, 88.97%, 67.35%, 97.99%, and 89.01%, respectively, and the indexes of 3D-TVS for MI were 86.36%, 91.07%, 79.17%, 94.44%, and 89.74%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of MRI for CI were 75% and 92.35%, 40.9%, 98.13%, and 91.2%, respectively. The indicators of 3D-TVS were 77.78%, 94.29%, 63.63%, 97.06%, and 92.4%, respectively. There were no significant differences in sensitivity, specificity, NPV, and accuracy between MRI and 3D-TVS in the diagnosis of MI and CI. For MI and CI, the sensitivity of combined MRI and 3D-TVS was higher than any other single method (P<0.05). For LNM, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of MRI were 58.33%, 96.26%, 63.63%, 95.37%, and 92.43%, respectively.

Conclusions

3D-TVS is equivalent to MRI in predicting MI and CI. Combined MRI and 3D-TVS can improve the assessment sensitivity, and they are useful in optimizing individualized surgical procedures. The sensitivity of MRI for LNM prediction needs to be improved.

Radiomics of the primary tumour as a tool to improve 18F-FDG-PET sensitivity in detecting nodal metastases in endometrial cancer

Background

A radiomic approach was applied in 18F-FDG PET endometrial cancer, to investigate if imaging features computed on the primary tumour could improve sensitivity in nodal metastases detection. One hundred fifteen women with histologically proven endometrial cancer who underwent preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT were retrospectively considered. SUV, MTV, TLG, geometrical shape, histograms and texture features were computed inside tumour contours. On a first group of 86 patients (DB1), univariate association with LN metastases was computed by Mann-Whitney test and a neural network multivariate model was developed. Univariate and multivariate models were assessed with leave one out on 20 training sessions and on a second group of 29 patients (DB2). A unified framework combining LN metastases visual detection results and radiomic analysis was also assessed.

Results

Sensitivity and specificity of LN visual detection were 50% and 99% on DB1 and 33% and 95% on DB2, respectively. A unique heterogeneity feature computed on the primary tumour (the zone percentage of the grey level size zone matrix, GLSZM ZP) was able to predict LN metastases better than any other feature or multivariate model (sensitivity and specificity of 75% and 81% on DB1 and of 89% and 80% on DB2). Tumours with LN metastases are in fact generally characterized by a lower GLSZM ZP value, i.e. by the co-presence of high-uptake and low-uptake areas. The combination of visual detection and GLSZM ZP values in a unified framework obtained sensitivity and specificity of 94% and 67% on DB1 and of 89% and 75% on DB2, respectively.

Conclusions

The computation of imaging features on the primary tumour increases nodal staging detection sensitivity in 18F-FDG PET and can be considered for a better patient stratification for treatment selection. Results need a confirmation on larger cohort studies.

Normal Variants and Pitfalls Encountered in PET Assessment of Gynecologic Malignancies

Combined PET/computed tomography is used for oncological indications. PET/computed tomography benefits from the metabolic information of PET and the anatomic localization of computed tomography. The integrated scanner provides data with accurate registration of anatomy and molecular information. Many physiologic conditions, normal variants, and benign lesions within the pelvis and the body can cause confusion and uncertainty. False-negative results owing to low ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake from the tumor can produce diagnostic challenges and inaccurate conclusions. This article reviews normal variants and potential pitfalls encountered in PET assessment of gynecologic malignancies to provide useful information for the referring and reporting physicians.

Role of positron emission tomography-computed tomography in endometrial cancer

Objective:

The efficacy of preoperative ¹⁸F-fluoro-D-glucose (¹⁸F-FDG) positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) in endometrium cancer is controversial. We examined the efficacy of PET-CT and the association between maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and prognostic factors in endometrial cancer.

Materials and Methods:

Thirty patients with endometrial cancer underwent preoperative ¹⁸F-FDG/PET-CT. The patients were treated with abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and bilateral systemic pelvic lymphadenectomy was planned for all patients; paraaortic lymphadenectomy was performed in patients with intermediate and high risk. Tumor histology, grade, depth of myometrial invasion, maximum tumor diameter, lymphovascular invasion, nodal status, and ovarian/adnexal metastases were recorded.

Results:

The mean primary tumor diameter was reported smaller in PET-CT and the effect size of PET-CT was -0.60. The kappa value was 0.06 for myometrial invasion. Pelvic lymph node metastasis was reported in 22.2% of patients in PET-CT. However, 3.7% of patients had pelvic lymph node metastasis. The kappa value for pelvic lymph node metastasis was 0.23, and sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 100%, 80.7%, 16.6%, and 100%, respectively. Paraaortic lymph node metastasis in PET-CT was suspected in 10%. However, paraaortic lymph node metastasis was found in 6.7% in histopathologic analyses. The kappa value was 0.15. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of PET-CT for detecting paraaortic lymph node metastases were 100%, 93.7%, 66.6%, and 100%, respectively. Myometrial invasion and tumor diameter were the only important prognostic factors affecting SUV_max.

Conclusion:

According to our results, PET-CT has a limited role and diagnostic efficacy in endometrial cancer. The indications of FDG/PET-CT in endometrium cancer should be studied further and revised.

Preoperative risk stratification using 18F-FDG PET/CT in women with endometrial cancer

The aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of 18F-FDG PET/CT for preoperative stratification of high-risk and low-risk carcinomas in patients with endometrial cancer. Patients, methods: 60 women (mean age 53.8 ± 9.9 years) with endometrial cancer, who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT for preoperative staging work-up, followed by primary cytoreductive surgery, were enrolled in this study. Maximum and mean standardized uptake values (SUVmax, SUVmean) of endometrial tumors were measured, and compared with the various clinicopathologic findings obtained after surgery. Tumour aggressiveness was classified as high-risk and low-risk carcinomas. Patients with stage I or II, endometrioid adenocarcinoma, histologic grade 1 or 2, invasion of less than half of the myometrium, maximum tumor size less than 2.0 cm, and absence of cervical invasion and lymphovascular space involvement (LVSI) were classified as the lowrisk carcinoma group. The remaining patients were classified as the high-risk carcinoma group. Results: In univariate analysis, SUVmax of the primary endometrial tumor was significantly higher in patients who were in a postmenopausal state (p = 0.047), large (> 2 cm) primary tumor (p <0.001), nonendometrioid subtype (p = 0.024), invasion of more than half of the myometrium (p = 0.020), or LVSI (p = 0.004). SUVmax differed significantly according to FIGO stage (p = 0.013) and histologic grade (p <0.001). In multivariate analysis, FIGO stage, histologic grade, LVSI, and maximum tumor size demonstrated a significant association with SUVmax (p <0.001; r = 0.843, r2 = 0.711). SUVmean showed similar results. Forty-one (68.3%) patients were diagnosed postoperatively as high-risk and 19 patients (31.7%) as low-risk carcinoma. Patients with high-risk carcinoma (12.1 ± 6.1) showed significantly higher SUVmax than patients with low-risk carcinoma (5.8 ± 2.8, p <0.001). The optimal SUVmax cut-off value of 8.7, determined by ROC analysis, revealed 75.6% sensitivity, 89.5% specificity, and 81.7% accuracy for risk stratification. Conclusion: High-risk endometrial cancer might be differentiated by means of higher SUVmax from low-risk endometrial cancer. 18F-FDG FDG PET/CT can be applied preoperatively for stratification of risk in patients with endometrial cancer.

Identification of Distant Metastatic Disease in Uterine Cervical and Endometrial Cancers with FDG PET/CT: Analysis from the ACRIN 6671/GOG 0233 Multicenter Trial

Purpose To assess the accuracy of staging positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in detecting distant metastasis in patients with local-regionally advanced cervical and high-risk endometrial cancer in the clinical trial by the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) and the Gynecology Oncology Group (GOG) (ACRIN 6671/GOG 0233) and to compare central and institutional reader performance. Materials and Methods In this prospective multicenter trial, PET/CT and clinical data were reviewed for patients enrolled in ACRIN 6671/GOG 0233. Two central readers, blinded to site read and reference standard, reviewed PET/CT images for distant metastasis. Central review was then compared with institutional point-of-care interpretation. Reference standard was pathologic and imaging follow-up. Test performance for central and site reviews of PET/CT images was calculated and receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed. Generalized estimating equations and nonparametric bootstrap procedure for clustered data were used to assess statistical significance. Results There were 153 patients with cervical cancer and 203 patients with endometrial cancer enrolled at 28 sites. Overall prevalence of distant metastasis was 13.7% (21 of 153) for cervical cancer and 11.8% (24 of 203) for endometrial cancer. Central reader PET/CT interpretation demonstrated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value of 54.8%, 97.7%, 79.3%, and 93.1% for cervical cancer metastasis versus 64.6%, 98.6%, 86.1%, and 95.4% for endometrial cancer, respectively. By comparison, local institutional review demonstrated sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and negative predictive value of 47.6%, 93.9%, 55.6%, and 91.9% for cervical cancer metastasis and 66.7%, 93.9%, 59.3%, and 95.5% for endometrial cancer, respectively. For central readers, the specificity and PPV of PET/CT detection of cervical and endometrial cancer metastases were all significantly higher compared with that of local institutional review (P < .05). Central reader area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values were 0.78 and 0.89 for cervical and endometrial cancer, respectively; these were not significantly different from local institutional AUC values (0.75 and 0.84, respectively; P > .05 for both). Conclusion FDG PET/CT demonstrates high specificity and PPV for detecting distant metastasis in cervical and endometrial cancer and should be included in the staging evaluation. Blinded central review of imaging provides improved specificity and PPV for the detection of metastases and should be considered for future oncologic imaging clinical trials. ^© RSNA, 2017.

Nomogram to Predict Risk of Lymph Node Metastases in Patients With Endometrioid Endometrial Cancer

Pelvic lymphadenectomy in early-stage endometrial cancer is controversial, but the findings influence prognosis and treatment decisions. Noninvasive tools to identify women at high risk of lymph node metastasis can assist in determining the need for lymph node dissection and adjuvant treatment for patients who do not have a lymph node dissection performed initially. A retrospective review of surgical pathology was conducted for endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma at our institution. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis of selected pathologic features were performed. A nomogram to predict for lymph node metastasis was constructed. From August 1996 to October 2013, 296 patients underwent total abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and selective lymphadenectomy for endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma. Median age at surgery was 62.7 yr (range, 24.9-93.6 yr). Median number of lymph nodes removed was 13 (range, 1-72). Of all patients, 38 (12.8%) had lymph node metastases. On univariate analysis, tumor size ≥4 cm, grade, lymphovascular space involvement, cervical stromal involvement, adnexal or serosal or parametrial involvement, positive pelvic washings, and deep (more than one half) myometrial invasion were all significantly associated with lymph node involvement. In a multivariate model, lymphovascular space involvement, deep myometrial invasion, and cervical stromal involvement remained significant predictors of nodal involvement, whereas tumor size of ≥4 cm was borderline significant. A lymph node predictive nomogram was constructed using these factors. Our nomogram can help estimate risk of nodal disease and aid in directing the need for additional surgery or adjuvant therapy in patients without lymph node surgery. Lymphovascular space involvement is the most important predictor for lymph node metastases, regardless of grade, and should be consistently assessed.

Molecular Imaging and Precision Medicine in Uterine and Ovarian Cancers

Gynecologic cancer is a heterogeneous group of diseases both functionally and morphologically. Today, PET coupled with computed tomography (PET/CT) or PET/MR imaging play a central role in the precision medicine algorithm of patients with gynecologic malignancy. In particular, PET/CT and PET/MR imaging are molecular imaging techniques that not only are useful tools for initial staging and restaging but provide anatomofunctional insight and can serve as predictive and prognostic biomarkers of response in patients with gynecologic malignancy.

Different imaging techniques for the detection of pelvic lymph nodes metastasis from gynecological malignancies: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of different imaging techniques and the corresponding diagnostic criteria for preoperative detection of pelvic lymph node metastasis from gynecological carcinomas.

METHODS

Six databases were systematically searched for retrieving eligible studies. Study inclusion, data extraction and risk of bias assessment were performed by 2 reviewers independently. STATA 14.0 was used to perform the meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Eighty eligible studies were collected. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and area under curve (AUC) of CT, MRI and DWI were 47%, 93%, 0.7424; 50%, 95%, 0.8039 and 84%, 95%, 0.9523 respectively. As regards PET, PET-CT and US, the pooled sensitivity, specificity and AUC were 56%, 97%, 0.9592; 68%, 97%, 0.9363 and 71%, 99%, 0.9008 respectively. The summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve indicated that the systematic diagnostic performances of PET, PET-CT, DWI were superior to other imaging modalities.

CONCLUSIONS

The present work demonstrated that DWI, PET, PET-CT were the top-priority consideration of imaging modalities for detecting metastatic pelvic lymph node in gynecological carcinoma. DWI was recommended as the first choice for metastasis exclusion and all the other imaging techniques including CT and MRI were suitable for metastasis conformation. However, for the early stage lymph node malignancy, PET or PET-CT could represent a better choice. More studies exploring the diagnostic efficacy of detailed criteria are required in the future.

The Emerging Role of PET/MR Imaging in Gynecologic Cancers

This article summarizes recent advances in PET/MR imaging in gynecologic cancers and the emerging clinical value of PET/MR imaging in the management of the 3 most common gynecologic malignancies: cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. PET/MR imaging offers superior soft tissue contrast, improved assessment of primary tumor involvement because of high-resolution multiplanar reformats, and functional MR techniques such as diffusion-weighted MR imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging. This article discusses the challenges, future directions, and technical advances of PET/MR imaging, and the emerging new multimodality, multiparametric imaging techniques for integrating morphologic, functional, and molecular imaging data.

FDG PET-CT of gynecologic cancers: pearls and pitfalls

FDG PET-CT plays an important role in treatment planning and in prognosis assessment of gynecologic cancer patients. Detection of hypermetabolic tissue with FDG PET, when combined with the high spatial resolution of CT, results in improved cancer detection and localization not afforded by either modality independently. This article is a primer for a radiologist performing PET-CT on gynecologic cancer patients and includes the imaging protocol, normal pattern of FDG distribution in the female pelvis and the lymph node drainage pathways from the gynecologic organs. Clinically relevant imaging findings that should be included in the report are discussed. Case examples illustrate how potential errors in exam interpretation can be avoided by concurrently performing a high-quality diagnostic CT with the FDG PET scan and by analyzing both the stand-alone and the fusion images.

Staging of High-Risk Endometrial Cancer With PET/CT and Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of PET/CT and sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in staging high-risk endometrial cancer patients (G2 and deep myometrial invasion, G3, serous clear cell carcinoma or carcinosarcoma) in early clinical stage.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From January 2006 to December 2012, high-risk early-stage endometrial cancer patients performing PET/CT scan followed by surgery (systematic pelvic ± aortic lymphadenectomy) were included. From December 2010, SLN mapping with Tc-albumin nanocolloid and blue dye cervical injection was included in our clinical practice and additionally performed. Histological findings were used as the reference standard.

RESULTS

Ninety-three patients were included, of which 22 of 93 had both PET/CT and SLN biopsy. The median number of dissected lymph nodes (LNs) was 28. Nineteen women (20.4%) had pelvic LN metastases; 14 were correctly identified by PET/CT. Among 5 false-negative cases, 3 occurred after the introduction of SLN mapping due to detection of micrometastases by ultrastaging. On overall patient-based analysis, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of PET/CT for pelvic LN metastases were 73.7%, 98.7%, 93.6%, 93.3%, 93.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

PET/CT demonstrated moderate sensitivity and high specificity in detecting pelvic LN metastases; its high positive predictive value (93.3%) is useful to refer patients to appropriate debulking surgery. Sentinel LN mapping and histological ultrastaging increased the identification of metastases (incidence, 18.3%-27.3%) not detectable by PET/CT because of its spatial resolution. The combination of both modalities is promising for nodal staging purpose.

Comparison of retrospective PET and MRI-DWI (PET/MRI-DWI) image fusion with PET/CT and MRI-DWI in detection of cervical and endometrial cancer lymph node metastases

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of retrospective image fusion of PET/MRI-DWI with that of PET/CT and MRI-DWI alone in detecting metastatic lymph nodes in patients with cervical and endometrial carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-seven patients with endometrial (n = 14) and cervical (n = 13) cancer who had undergone preoperative MRI-DWI and PET/CT for staging were retrospectively evaluated. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of PET/CT, MRI-DWI, and PET/MRI-DWI image fusion were calculated on a per-patient basis and on a per-node basis. Histopathological and follow-up imaging results were used as the gold standard.

RESULTS

On a per-patient basis PET/MRI-DWI had the same sensitivity (87.5 %), specificity (84.2 %), diagnostic accuracy (85.1 %), PPV (70 %), and NPV (94.1 %) as PET-CT, but on a per-node basis PET/MRI-DWI showed better sensitivity (89 vs 70.2 %), specificity (91.6 vs 90.5 %), diagnostic accuracy (91.2 vs 87 %), PPV (68.7 vs 60.4 %), and NPV (97.6 vs 93.6 %) than PET-CT. Comparison of the areas under the ROC curves for the detection of metastatic lymph nodes demonstrated a non-significant difference (p = 0.055) between PET/CT and fused PET/MRI-DWI.

CONCLUSION

PET/MRI-DWI may be a valuable technique for N-staging patients with endometrial and cervical cancer, but more studies are needed to investigate its potential clinical utility.

Role of SUVmax and GLUT-1 Expression in Determining Tumor Aggressiveness in Patients With Clinical Stage I Endometrioid Endometrial Cancer

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the role of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in estimating tumor aggressiveness in patients with clinical stage I endometrial cancer and the correlation between aggressiveness and expression of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1).

METHODS

F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography was performed on 43 patients with clinical stage I endometrioid endometrial cancer. (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake was quantified by calculating the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV(max)) and GLUT-1 expression status based on immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

The mean (SD) SUV(max) of the primary tumor was 8.55 (5.04). The mean SUV(max) and GLUT-1 expression in stage IB and stage IC were significantly higher than that in stage IA (P = 0.001; P = 0.003). The mean (SD) SUV(max) was 6.81 (4.55) in grade 1, 10.92 (4.61) in grade 2, and 15.35 (1.34) in grade 3 (grade 1 vs grade 2 and 3; P = 0.005). The mean (SD) GLUT-1 expression was 1.17 (0.94) in grade 1, 2.00 (0.94) in grade 2, and 3.00 (0.00) in grade 3 (grade 1 vs grade 2 and 3; P = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

Tumor aggressiveness, such as myometrial invasion or tumor grade, had a positive correlation with the SUV(max) and GLUT-1 expression in patients with clinical stage I endometrioid endometrial cancer.

PET/MRI Evaluation of Gynecologic Malignancies and Prostate Cancer

PET combined with cross-sectional anatomical imaging is an essential part of workup for most malignancies, in which CT or MRI provides anatomical context to the functional information from PET. Hybrid imaging with PET/CT has been extensively researched and implemented clinically in the evaluation and management of patients with gynecologic malignancies. Lately, integrated PET/MR scanners have become available. This new technology is fast gaining a role in clinical applications in the fields of oncology, neurology, and cardiology. MRI provides excellent soft tissue contrast especially in the pelvis and has been proven very useful for imaging prostate and female genital pathologies. The ability of PET to provide accurate functional imaging data with high sensitivity combined with the strength of MRI to provide accurate depiction of anatomy with high contrast and spatial resolution renders combined PET/MRI a desirable method for evaluation of gynecologic malignancies and other pelvic cancers such as prostate cancer. The goal of this article is to provide an overview of the published literature using PET/MRI in gynecologic and prostate cancers.

High Diagnostic Value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in Endometrial Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Literature

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of (18)F-FDG PET/CT for the preoperative assessment of lymph node metastases (LNM) in endometrial cancer patients and for the assessment of endometrial cancer recurrence (ECR) after primary surgical treatment.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was performed on Pubmed/MEDLINE databases for studies reporting the diagnostic performance of (18)F-FDG PET/CT for assessment of LNM and ECR published up to August 15, 2015. Twenty-one studies (13 for LNM and 8 for ECR) were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and diagnostic odds ratio of the (18)F-FDG PET/CT were calculated along with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A summary receiver-operating-characteristics curve (SROC) was constructed, and the area under the SROC curve (AUC) was determined along with Q* index.

RESULTS

The overall pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio, and AUC (with 95% CI) of (18)F-FDG PET/CT for detection of LNM were 0.72 (95% CI, 0.63-0.80), 0.94 (95% CI, 0.93-0.96), 10.9 (95% CI, 7.9-15.1), 0.36 (95% CI, 0.27-0.48), 39.7 (95% CI, 21.4-73.6), and 0.94 (95% CI, 0.85-0.99), respectively, whereas the corresponding numbers for detection of ECR were 0.95 (95% CI, 0.91-0.98), 0.91 (95% CI, 0.86-0.94), 8.8 (95% CI, 6.0-12.7), 0.08 (95% CI, 0.05-0.15), 171.7 (95% CI, 67.9-434.3), and 0.97 (95% CI, 0.95-0.98), respectively. The overall diagnostic accuracy (Q* index) in LNM and ECR were 0.88 and 0.93, respectively.

CONCLUSION

(18)F-FDG PET/CT has an excellent diagnostic performance for detecting LNM preoperatively and disease recurrence postoperatively in endometrial cancer patients.

Comparison of MRI and 18F-FDG PET/CT in the preoperative evaluation of uterine carcinosarcoma

OBJECTIVE

To compare the validities of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and (18)F-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET/CT) in preoperative evaluation of uterine carcinosarcoma.

METHODS

Pathologic results of primary tumor lesions and paraaortic and pelvic lymph node (LN) areas were compared with the preoperative image findings. Differences in the validity parameters of both images were compared using McNemar test.

RESULTS

For detecting primary tumor lesions (n=56), the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for (18)F-FDG PET/CT versus MRI were 98.1% versus 98.1% (P=1.000), 33.3% versus 100% (P=0.157), 94.6% versus 98.2% (P=0.500), 96.3% versus 100%, and 50% versus 75%, respectively. For paraaortic LN areas, the values were 77.8% versus 51.9% (P=0.016), 90.2% versus 100% (P=0.025), 85.9% versus 83.3% (P=0.774), 80.8% versus 100%, and 88.5% versus 79.7%, respectively. For pelvic LN areas, the values were 61.1% versus 50% (P=0.125), 86.8% versus 89.5% (P=0.727), 78.6% versus 76.8% (P=0.774), 68.8% versus 69.2%, and 82.5% versus 79.1%, respectively. For extrauterine disease, the patient-based values for (18)F-FDG PET/CT were 100%, 78.9%, 85.7%, 69.2%, and 100%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

In patients with uterine carcinosarcoma, (18)F-FDG PET/CT is comparable to MRI in detecting primary uterine lesions. For predicting LN metastases, though (18)F-FDG PET/CT might be insufficient for replacing lymphadenectomy or MRI, it might allow lymphadenectomy to be omitted in poor surgical candidates. For detecting extrauterine metastases, it could also be useful to identify unsuspected disease.

Comparison of FDG PET/CT and MRI in lymph node staging of endometrial cancer

OBJECTIVE

Endometrial cancer is the most frequent cancer occurring in the female genital tract in the Western countries. Because surgical staging is currently the standard, noninvasive techniques that accurately identify lymph node (LN) metastases would be beneficial by reducing costs and complications. The purpose of our study is to compare the diagnostic accuracy of 2-[(18)F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with that of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting LN metastases in the preoperative staging of endometrial cancer.

METHODS

Two hundred eighty-seven consecutive patients with endometrial cancer underwent preoperative PET/CT and MRI for staging. The malignancy criteria for LNs were a short diameter of 1 cm or more by MRI and focally increased (18)F-FDG uptake by PET/CT. After evaluating PET/CT and MRI separately, morphologic and functional image findings were compared with the histological findings regarding LN metastasis for all patients. PET/CT and MRI images were classified on the basis of histological findings as true-positive, true-negative, false-positive, or false-negative. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy were calculated.

RESULTS

Histologic examination revealed LN metastases in 51 patients (17.8%). The maximal standardized uptake values (SUVmax) of the primary lesions by PET/CT ranged from 1.4 to 37.7, with a mean value of 9.3, whereas those of the metastatic LNs ranged from 2.0 to 22.5 with a mean of 7.3. On a per-patient basis, node staging resulted in sensitivities of 70.0% with (18)F-FDG PET/CT and 34.0% with MRI, and specificities of 95.4 % with PET/CT and 95.0% with MRI. The NPV of PET/CT was 94.3%, and that of MRI was 87.2%. On a lesion base analysis, sensitivity of PET/CT was 79.4% while that of MRI was 51.6%. In detecting distant metastasis, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV, and NPV of PET/CT were 92.9, 98.9, 98.6, 81.3, and 99.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Diagnostic performance of FDG PET/CT was better than MRI for detecting metastatic lymph nodes in patients with endometrial cancer both by patient basis and lesion basis analyses. Due to high NPV, FDG PET-CT could aid in selecting candidates for lymphadenectomy.

18F-FDG-PET/CT is of limited value in primary staging of early stage cervical cancer

PURPOSE

To assess the clinical benefit of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) in evaluating pelvic lymph nodes in patients with early stage cervical cancer (FIGO stage 1a–1b1), who have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-defined lymph node negative disease, with histopathologic results as the reference standard.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We assessed one hundred and seventy nine sequential 18F-FDG-PET/CT scans in women with newly diagnosed cervical carcinoma between January 2009 and September 2011. 47 of these patients had early stage disease (FIGO stage 1a–1b1) with no suspicious lymph nodes on MRI. 18F-FDG-PET/CT images were analyzed and histopathological findings (pelvic lymph node resection) served as the reference standard.

RESULTS

The median age of patients was 48 (range 22–86) years. 66 % had squamous histotype. Median number of nodes dissected per patient was 21 (range 8–47), 2 of 47 patients had nodal metastases (4.25 %). All patients in this group had no suspicious lymph nodes on 18F-FDG-PET/CT. Overall patient based sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of 18F-FDG-PET/CT for detection of nodal disease were 0 %, 100 %, 0 %, 96 %, and 96 % respectively.

CONCLUSION

Pathologic validation of 18F-FDG-PET/CT imaging demonstrates little value for 18F-FDG-PET/CT in patients with early stage (FIGO stage 1a–1b1) MRI-defined lymph node negative cervical carcinoma. Since the likelihood of metastatic nodal disease is very low in women with stage 1a–1b1 cervical cancer, we believe that 18F-FDG-PET/CT should not have a role in the routine pre-treatment evaluation of these women.

Is a More Comprehensive Surgery Necessary in Patients With Uterine Serous Carcinoma?

Objective

Uterine serous carcinoma (USC) is an aggressive histologic subtype of endometrial cancer that shares similarities to serous ovarian cancer, with a propensity for spread to the upper abdomen, a high recurrence rate, and a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether the traditional surgical staging procedure for endometrial cancer was adequate for USC or whether a more extensive surgery, similar to the staging procedure for ovarian cancer, needs to be performed. Specifically, the roles of omentectomy and sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping were evaluated.

Methods

We retrospectively identified cases of presumed clinical stage I USC at our institution from April 2005 to March 2014. Medical records were reviewed for the following information: age at diagnosis, preoperative imaging, operative findings, surgical procedure, and final histology with definitive International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage.

Results

A total of 39 patients with presumed clinical stage I USC were identified. According to the final pathology report, the surgical stage was as follows: 17 stage IA (44%), 8 stage IB (20%), 3 stage II (8%), 2 stage IIIA (5%), 6 stage IIIC1 (15%), 1 IIIC2 (3%), and 2 stage IVB (5%). Therefore, 14 patients (36%) were surgically upstaged, but none of the patients had their clinical disease upstaged by virtue of finding microscopic metastatic disease in an otherwise normal-looking omentum. Sentinel lymph node mapping was performed in 19 patients (42%). Sensitivity and negative predictive value of SLN mapping were 100% when at least 1 SLN was identified.

Conclusions

The detection of microscopic disease in radiologically and clinically normal-appearing omentum seems to be rare in USC. Sentinel lymph node mapping seems to be valuable in the serous subtype of endometrial cancer. A less extensive surgery may be possible in patients with USC as it seems to provide the same information as a more extensive surgery.

Application of Combined Two-Dimensional and Three-Dimensional Transvaginal Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Endometrial Carcinoma

Objective. The goal of this study was to explore the clinical value of combining two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) transvaginal contrast-enhanced ultrasounds (CEUS) in diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma (EC). Methods. In this prospective diagnostic study, transvaginal 2D and 3D CEUS were performed on 68 patients with suspected EC, and the results of the obtained 2D-CEUS and 3D-CEUS images were compared with the gold standard for statistical analysis. Results. 2D-CEUS benign endometrial lesions showed the normal uterine perfusion phase while EC cases showed early arrival and early washout of the contrast agent and nonuniform enhancement. The 3D-CEUS images differed in central blood vessel manifestation, blood vessel shape, and vascular pattern between benign and malignant endometrial lesions (P < 0.05). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of transvaginal 2D-CEUS and 2D-CEUS combined with 3D-CEUS for diagnosis of benign and malignant endometrial lesions were 76.9%, 73.8%, 64.5%, 83.8%, and 75.0% and 84.6%, 83.3%, 75.9%, 89.7%, and 83.8%, respectively. Conclusion. 3D-CEUS is a useful supplement to 2D-CEUS and can clearly reveal the angioarchitecture spatial relationships between vessels and depth of myometrial invasion in EC. The combined use of 2D and 3D-CEUS can offer direct, accurate, and comprehensive diagnosis of early EC.

The Role of Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Planning Radiotherapy in Endometrial Cancer

Objective

The optimal method of assessing disease distribution in endometrial cancer is widely debated. Knowledge of disease distribution assists in planning adjuvant radiotherapy; in this study we used positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) to assess disease distribution before radiotherapy.

Methods

Seventy-three consecutive patients referred to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre for adjuvant radiotherapy for endometrial cancer, with either high-risk disease after a hysterectomy or recurrent disease, had a PET/CT before treatment. The findings on PET/CT and clinical course were recorded.

Results

PET/CT found additional disease in 35% of postoperative patients, changing planned treatment in 31%. In the group with known recurrence, additional disease was found in 72%, changing management in 36%.

Conclusions

PET/CT is a valuable tool for planning radiotherapy in endometrial cancer.

Fludeoxyglucose F 18 PET-Computed Tomography: Management Changes Effecting Patient Outcomes in Gynecologic Malignancies

Outcome analysis in oncologic imaging is complex because of the multiple variables that can affect survival, including how early disease is diagnosed, the accuracy of staging at diagnosis, and where and how the patient is treated. Risk for tumor recurrence is estimated based on tumor histologic grade, stage at diagnosis, and other factors, including expressed molecular markers. This article reviews the data supporting the use of F 18 fluorodeoxyglucose PET-computed tomography in endometrial, ovarian, and cervical malignancies, with emphasis on the impact of imaging on treatment stratification and prognosis.

Evaluation of gynecologic cancer with MR imaging, 18F-FDG PET/CT, and PET/MR imaging

MR imaging and (18)F-FDG PET/CT play central and complementary roles in the care of patients with gynecologic cancer. Because treatment often requires combinations of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, imaging is central to triage and to determining prognosis. This article reviews the use of the 2 imaging modalities in the initial evaluation of 3 common cancers: uterine cervical, uterine endometrial, and epithelial ovarian. Imaging features that affect management are highlighted, as well as the relative strengths and weaknesses of the 2 modalities. Use of imaging after initial therapy to assess for recurrence and to plan salvage therapy is described. Newer functional and molecular techniques in MR imaging and PET are evaluated. Finally, we describe our initial experience with PET/MR imaging, an emerging technology that may prove to be a mainstay in personalized gynecologic cancer care.

The Accuracy of Integrated [(18)F] Fluorodeoxyglucose-Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Detection of Pelvic and Para-aortic Nodal Metastasis in Patients with High Risk Endometrial Cancer

Lymph nodal (LN) metastasis is the most important prognostic factor in high-risk endometrial cancer. However, the benefit of routine lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer is controversial. This study was conducted to assess the accuracy of [¹⁸F] fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography ([¹⁸F] FDG-PET/CT) in detection of pelvic and para-aortic nodal metastases in high-risk endometrial cancer. 20 patients with high-risk endometrial carcinoma underwent [¹⁸F] FDG-PET/CT followed by total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy with or without para-aortic lymphadenectomy. The findings on histopathology were compared with [¹⁸F] FDG-PET/CT findings to calculate the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of [¹⁸F] FDG-PET/CT. The pelvic nodal findings were analyzed on a patient and nodal chain based criteria. The para-aortic nodal findings were reported separately. Histopathology documented nodal involvement in two patients (10%). For detection of pelvic nodes, on a patient based analysis, [¹⁸F] FDG-PET/CT had a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 61.11%, PPV of 22.22%, NPV of 100% and accuracy of 65% and on a nodal chain based analysis, [¹⁸F] FDG-PET/CT had a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 80%, PPV of 20%, NPV of 100%, and accuracy of 80.95%. For detection of para-aortic nodes, [¹⁸F] FDG-PET/CT had sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 66.67%, PPV of 20%, NPV of 100%, and accuracy of 69.23%. Although [¹⁸F] FDG-PET/CT has high sensitivity for detection of LN metastasis in endometrial carcinoma, it had moderate accuracy and high false positivity. However, the high NPV is important in selecting patients in whom lymphadenectomy may be omitted.

Alterations of choline phospholipid metabolism in endometrial cancer are caused by choline kinase alpha overexpression and a hyperactivated deacylation pathway

Metabolic rearrangements subsequent to malignant transformation are not well characterized in endometrial cancer. Identification of altered metabolites could facilitate imaging-guided diagnosis, treatment surveillance, and help to identify new therapeutic options. Here, we used high-resolution magic angle spinning magnetic resonance mass spectroscopy on endometrial cancer surgical specimens and normal endometrial tissue to investigate the key modulators that might explain metabolic changes, incorporating additional investigations using qRT-PCR, Western blotting, tissue microarrays (TMA), and uptake assays of [(3)H]-labeled choline. Lipid metabolism was severely dysregulated in endometrial cancer with various amino acids, inositols, nucleobases, and glutathione also altered. Among the most important lipid-related alterations were increased phosphocholine levels (increased 70% in endometrial cancer). Mechanistic investigations revealed that changes were not due to altered choline transporter expression, but rather due to increased expression of choline kinase α (CHKA) and an activated deacylation pathway, as indicated by upregulated expression of the catabolic enzymes LYPLA1, LYPLA2, and GPCPD1. We confirmed the significance of CHKA overexpression on a TMA, including a large series of endometrial hyperplasia, atypical hyperplasia, and adenocarcinoma tissues, supporting a role for CHKA in malignant transformation. Finally, we documented several-fold increases in the uptake of [(3)H]choline in endometrial cancer cell lines compared with normal endometrial stromal cells. Our results validate deregulated choline biochemistry as an important source of noninvasive imaging biomarkers for endometrial cancer.

Usefulness of DWI in preoperative assessment of deep myometrial invasion in patients with endometrial carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review and a meta-analysis in order to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in the preoperative assessment of deep myometrial invasion in patients with endometrial carcinoma.

METHODS

Studies evaluating DWI for the detection of deep myometrial invasion in patients with endometrial carcinoma were systematically searched for in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library from January 1995 to January 2014. Methodologic quality was assessed by using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool. Bivariate random-effects meta-analytic methods were used to obtain pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The study also evaluated the clinical utility of DWI in preoperative assessment of deep myometrial invasion.

RESULTS

Seven studies enrolling a total of 320 individuals met the study inclusion criteria. The summary area under the ROC curve was 0.91. There was no evidence of publication bias (P = 0.90, bias coefficient analysis). Sensitivity and specificity of DWI for detection of deep myometrial invasion across all studies were 0.90 and 0.89, respectively. Positive and negative likelihood ratios with DWI were 8 and 0.11 respectively. In patients with high pre-test probabilities, DWI enabled confirmation of deep myometrial invasion; in patients with low pre-test probabilities, DWI enabled exclusion of deep myometrial invasion. The worst case scenario (pre-test probability, 50%) post-test probabilities were 89% and 10% for positive and negative DWI results, respectively.

CONCLUSION

DWI has high sensitivity and specificity for detecting deep myometrial invasion and more importantly can reliably rule out deep myometrial invasion. Therefore, it would be worthwhile to add a DWI sequence to the standard MRI protocols in preoperative evaluation of endometrial cancer in order to detect deep myometrial invasion, which along with other poor prognostic factors like age, tumor grade, and LVSI would be useful in stratifying high risk groups thereby helping in the tailoring of surgical approach in patient with low risk of endometrial carcinoma.

The efficacy of preoperative positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) for detection of lymph node metastasis in cervical and endometrial cancer: clinical and pathological factors influencing it

OBJECTIVE

We studied the diagnostic performance of (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography in cervical and endometrial cancers with particular focus on lymph node metastases.

METHODS

Seventy patients with cervical cancer and 53 with endometrial cancer were imaged with (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography before lymphadenectomy. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography using the final pathological diagnoses as the golden standard.

RESULTS

We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography. In cervical cancer, the results evaluated by cases were 33.3, 92.7, 55.6 and 83.6%, respectively. When evaluated by the area of lymph nodes, the results were 30.6, 98.9, 55.0 and 97.0%, respectively. As for endometrial cancer, the results evaluated by cases were 50.0, 93.9, 40.0 and 95.8%, and by area of lymph nodes, 45.0, 99.4, 64.3 and 98.5%, respectively. The limitation of the efficacy was found out by analyzing it by the region of the lymph node, the size of metastatic node, the historical type of tumor in cervical cancer and the prevalence of lymph node metastasis.

CONCLUSION

The efficacy of positron emission tomography/computed tomography regarding the detection of lymph node metastasis in cervical and endometrial cancer is not established and has limitations associated with the region of the lymph node, the size of metastasis lesion in lymph node and the pathological type of primary tumor. The indication for the imaging and the interpretation of the results requires consideration for each case by the pretest probability based on the information obtained preoperatively.

Surgical management of early endometrial cancer: an update and proposal of a therapeutic algorithm

In the last few years technical improvements have produced a dramatic shift from traditional open surgery towards a minimally invasive approach for the management of early endometrial cancer. Advancement in minimally invasive surgical approaches has allowed extensive staging procedures to be performed with significantly reduced patient morbidity. Debate is ongoing regarding the choice of a minimally invasive approach that has the most effective benefit for the patients, the surgeon, and the healthcare system as a whole.

Surgical treatment of women with presumed early endometrial cancer should take into account the features of endometrial disease and the general surgical risk of the patient. Women with endometrial cancer are often aged, obese, and with cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidities that increase the risk of peri-operative complications, so it is important to tailor the extent and the radicalness of surgery in order to decrease morbidity and mortality potentially derivable from unnecessary procedures. In this regard women with negative nodes derive no benefit from unnecessary lymphadenectomy, but may develop short- and long-term morbidity related to this procedure. Preoperative and intraoperative techniques could be critical tools for tailoring the extent and the radicalness of surgery in the management of women with presumed early endometrial cancer. In this review we will discuss updates in surgical management of early endometrial cancer and also the role of preoperative and intraoperative evaluation of lymph node status in influencing surgical options, with the aim of proposing a management algorithm based on the literature and our experience.

Diagnostic Performance of Fluorine 18 Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography Imaging for Detection of Primary Lesion and Staging of Endometrial Cancer Patients: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Literature

Objectives

Fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) imaging has been used for staging of endometrial cancer. In the current study, we systematically searched the available literature on the accuracy of 18F-FDG PET imaging for staging of endometrial cancer.

Methods

PubMed, SCOPUS, ISI Web of Knowledge, Science Direct, and Springer were searched using “endometr* AND PET” as the search terms. All studies evaluating the accuracy of 18F-FDG PET in the staging of endometrial carcinoma were included. Statistical pooling of diagnostic accuracy indices was done using random-effects model. Cochrane Q test and I2 index were used for heterogeneity evaluation.

Results

Sixteen studies (807 patients in total) were included in the meta-analysis. Sensitivity and specificity for detection of the primary lesions were 81.8% (77.9%–85.3%) and 89.8% (79.2%–96.2%); for lymph node staging were 72.3% (63.8%–79.8%) and 92.9% (90.6%–94.8%); and for distant metastasis detection were 95.7% (85.5%–99.5%) and 95.4% (92.7%–97.3%).

Conclusions

Because of low sensitivity, diagnostic utility of 18F-FDG PET imaging is limited in primary tumor detection and lymph node staging of endometrial cancer patients. However, high specificities ensure high positive predictive values in these 2 indications. Diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG PET imaging is much better in detection of distant metastases. Larger studies with better design are needed to draw any more definite conclusion.

Preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT in the management of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

The introduction of 18-FDG-PET/CT during preoperative evaluation of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) has led to an increase of the detection of extra-abdominal metastases. However, the clinical impact of this upstage remains unclear.

METHODS

Patients with suspected advanced EOC underwent 18-FDG-PET/CT within two weeks prior to debulking surgery.

RESULTS

Between 2006 and 2011 95 patients met the inclusion criteria. Based on the concordance or the discrepancy of clinical and PET/CT stage, patients were divided into 3 groups (A: clinical and PET III; B: clinical III and PET IV; C: clinical and PET IV). Twenty-five patients were upstaged from FIGO stage III to stage IV by PET/CT. The proportion of patients who achieved a residual tumor <1cm in group B and C was similar, whereas it was significantly lower compared to group A. Similarly, complete response to adjuvant chemotherapy was achieved more frequently in patients in group A. PFS was similar in the three groups (17, 17 and 12 months in group A, B and C), as well as OS (51, 41 and 35 months).

CONCLUSIONS

PET/CT is able to detect distant metastases in EOC patients. The presence of extra-abdominal disease probably indicates a more aggressive disease which also shows a lower response to standard chemotherapy. However, upstaged patients have a similar prognosis compared to stage III patients, probably because intra-abdominal disease is more likely to lead patients to death. This might also explain why residual tumor is the most important prognostic factor for advanced EOC patients.

Sentinel node mapping in high risk endometrial cancer after laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy with morcellation

INTRODUCTION

Occult endometrial cancer after supracervical hysterectomy is very uncommon. Even if optimal management of those rare cases is still unproven, to guide the need for further therapies, restaging should be recommended in this situation.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

We report of a 60-year old woman with occult high risk endometrial cancer after supracervical hysterectomy with morcellation. We describe the feasibility of laparoscopic intraoperative sentinel node identification with cervical stump removing to restage the suspicious early stage high risk endometrial cancer.

DISCUSSION

In high risk endometrial cancer surgical restaging is important, considering that 10-35% of cases can present pelvic nodal metastasis. To reduce the treatment related morbidity maintaining the benefit of surgical staging, with a negative preoperative PET/CT, we performed a laparoscopic SN mapping with cervical stump removing.

CONCLUSION

This report highlight the fact that SN mapping with cervical injection is a feasible and safe technique also without the uterine corpus after supracervical hysterectomy with morcellation.

Tailoring systematic lymphadenectomy in high-risk clinical early stage endometrial cancer: the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the role of FDG PET/CT in the preoperative N-staging of high-risk clinical stage I endometrial cancer. The correlation between the metabolic characteristics of endometrial tumor uptake as predictors of a) lymph-node (LN) metastases and b) recurrence, was also evaluated.

METHODS

Seventy-six high-risk (G2 with deep myometrial invasion, G3, serous/clear-cell carcinoma) clinical stage I endometrial cancer patients underwent preoperative PET/CT scan followed by total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and lymphadenectomy. PET/CT images were analyzed and correlated to histological findings. Maximal and mean standardized uptake value (SUVmax, SUVmean), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG, defined as the product between SUVmean and MTV) of endometrial lesions were calculated and correlated to: a) presence of LN metastases, b) recurrences.

RESULTS

PET/CT resulted positive at LNs in 12/76 patients: 11/12 truly positive, 1/12 falsely positive. Conversely PET/CT was negative in 64/76 patients: 61/64 truly negative and 3/64 falsely negative. On pt-based analysis, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive value of PET/CT in detecting LN metastases were 78.6%, 98.4%, 94.7%, 91.7%, 95.3%, respectively. A significant association was found between the presence of LN metastases and SUVmax (p=0.038), MTV (p=0.007), TLG (p=0.003) of the primary tumor. No correlations were found between the metabolic parameters and relapse (median follow-up 25.4months).

CONCLUSIONS

In high-risk clinical stage I endometrial cancer FDG PET/CT demonstrated moderate sensitivity, high specificity and accuracy for the nodal status assessment. SUVmax, MTV and TLG of the primary tumor are significantly correlated to LN metastases, while none of these parameters is predictor of recurrence.