title: (18)F-FDG PET/CT in the evaluation of recurrent ovarian cancer: a prospective study on forty-one patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many patients with ovarian cancer are at high risk of recurrence especially in the 2 years following first-line therapy. CA125 serum levels measurement associated to computed tomography (CT), ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are currently used during follow-up to detect recurrent disease. Unfortunately, in a relevant percentage of cases all of these traditional imaging techniques provide a significant number of doubtful/equivocal results or turn out negative even in presence of elevated Ca125 levels. Aim of our study was to evaluate sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in a group of patients with suspicion of ovarian cancer recurrence.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively evaluated 41 patients with a mean age of 59.4 years who had been previously treated for ovarian cancer with surgery and radio-chemotherapy or radio-chemotherapy alone. Following the performance of traditional radiologic imaging (US, CT, MRI) and Ca125 measurement, all patients underwent additional (18)F-FDG PET/CT. PET/CT results were compared with histologic findings or clinical, laboratory and repeated traditional imaging techniques during subsequent follow-up data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 41 patients 32 had a positive PET-CT (30 true positive, two false positive) whereas nine a negative PET/CT (five true negative, four false negative). Overall, in our experience (18)F-FDG PET/CT provided a good sensitivity (88.2%), specificity (71.4%) and accuracy (85.4%), superior to that reported in literature for traditional radiologic imaging.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It can be concluded that (18)F-FDG PET/CT appears to be a useful and accurate tool in disclosing early recurrent ovarian cancer.
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine Department, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nanni
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rubello
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farsad
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Iaco
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sansovini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Erba
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rampin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mariani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fanti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18