Positron-emission tomography in gynaecologic malignancies.
BACKGROUND
The role of (18)F-FDG PET in the management of gynaecologic malignancies remains unclear mainly due to the failure of clinicians to appreciate the significance of this imaging tool. However, this under utilisation is being actively re-addressed with a large number of reviews and studies, particularly in the last few years.


RESULTS
PET has been shown to have high sensitivity and specificity in the evaluation of relapse and nodal disease in cervical cancer, while other uses such as staging and monitoring response to therapies being under further investigation. Similarly, promising results have been published in the use of PET in patients affected by endometrial cancer and uterine sarcomas for detecting lymph nodes metastasis and recurrent disease. In ovarian cancer, PET appears to have a great potential in staging and assessment of disease relapse. An important utility of PET in gynaecologic tumours, which is shared with a large number of other malignancies, is its value in positively changing the patients' management.


CONCLUSIONS
The surge in studies using PET in gynaecological malignancies is in its early stages, and further studies are required to optimise the role of PET in these conditions.
Maffione
Anna Margherita
AM
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
Piva
Michela
M
Tsamita
Charoula Stavroula
CS
Nanni
Cristina
C
Castellucci
Paolo
P
Ambrosini
Valentina
V
Lopci
Egesta
E
Musto
Alessandra
A
Rampin
Lucia
L
Grassetto
Gaia
G
Marzola
Maria Cristina
MC
Massaro
Arianna
A
Cracco
Elena
E
Al-Nahhas
Adil
A
Fanti
Stefano
S
Rubello
Domenico
D
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18