Sequential FDG-PET brachytherapy treatment planning in carcinoma of the cervix.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the utility of sequential (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) imaging for brachytherapy treatment planning in patients with carcinoma of the cervix.


METHODS
Twenty-four patients with carcinoma of the cervix were included in this prospective study. The clinical stage of their disease was Ib (7), IIa (1), IIb (7), and IIIb (9). Patients were treated with irradiation and brachytherapy, with the majority receiving concurrent weekly cisplatin chemotherapy. Patients underwent diagnostic FDG-PET imaging before treatment, sequential FDG-PET brachytherapy imaging during treatment, and diagnostic FDG-PET 3 months after treatment completion. Delineation of the gross tumor volume, bladder, and rectum was performed for all scans using a commercially available treatment-planning system. Actual treatment delivery was based on two-dimensional orthogonal planning.


RESULTS
The mean gross tumor volume and percent coverage by the target isodose surface for the initial, mid, and last implant were 37 cm3, 17 cm3, and 10 cm3 and 68%, 76%, and 79%, respectively. Nine of 11 patients were found to have continued decrease in tumor volume as measured by FDG-PET, with 3 patients having complete regression of their tumor before treatment was completed. The maximal bladder and rectal doses obtained from three-dimensional dose-volume histograms were significantly higher than the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements Report 38 bladder and rectal points obtained by two-dimensional treatment-planning.


CONCLUSIONS
Sequential FDG-PET brachytherapy imaging identifies the tumor response in individual patients, potentially making patient-specific brachytherapy treatment planning possible.
Lin
Lilie L
LL
Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Mutic
Sasa
S
Malyapa
Robert S
RS
Low
Daniel A
DA
Miller
Tom R
TR
Vicic
Milos
M
Laforest
Richard
R
Zoberi
Imran
I
Grigsby
Perry W
PW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012007:Rectum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18