title: Positron-emission tomography in gynaecologic malignancies.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Margherita
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Maffione
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piva
authors.forename: Charoula Stavroula
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Tsamita
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nanni
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castellucci
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ambrosini
authors.forename: Egesta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lopci
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Musto
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rampin
authors.forename: Gaia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grassetto
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Marzola
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Massaro
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cracco
authors.forename: Adil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Nahhas
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fanti
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rubello
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18