Whole-body positron emission tomography with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose is an effective method to detect extra-pelvic recurrence in uterine sarcomas.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the clinical use of F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in the post-therapy surveillance of uterine sarcoma.


METHODS
Eight whole-body FDG-PET studies were performed in seven women with previously treated uterine sarcoma. Conventional image studies (computed tomography) and physical examinations were performed for follow-up. All FDG-PET studies were indicated to localize suspected recurrences noted by conventional methods.


RESULTS
The per case sensitivity of the FDG-PET studies and CT scans was 85.7% (6/7) and 100% (7/7), respectively (p = 0.174). FDG-PET was able to detect seven extrapelvic metastastic sites below the diaphragm (7/7, sensitivity: 100%), including the liver, spleen, paraaortic lymph node, spine and paracolic gutter, as well as pulmonary lesions in five patients, while the CT scan detected only three lesions (3/7, sensitivity: 42.9%; p = 0.070). FDG-PET detected only four recurrent pelvic lesions (4/6) and CT scan detected six (6/6) recurrent pelvic lesions (66.7% vs 100%, p = 0.455).


CONCLUSIONS
The FDG-PET showed a better detection rate than the abdominal CT scan for extrapelvic metastatic lesions and a similar detection rate as well as abdominal CT scan. FDG-PET can serve as a useful detection tool for patients with uterine sarcomas because nearly 80% of recurrence involve an extrapelvic site.
Sung
P L
PL
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan.
Chen
Y J
YJ
Liu
R S
RS
Shieh
H J
HJ
Wang
P H
PH
Yen
M S
MS
Wen
K C
KC
Shen
S H
SH
Lai
C R
CR
Yuan
C C
CC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D010388:Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012008:Recurrence; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000379:methods
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18