title: Post-treatment [¹⁸F]FDG maximum standardized uptake value as a prognostic marker of recurrence in endometrial carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine whether post-treatment [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake measured as the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV(max)) by integrated positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging has prognostic significance in patients with endometrial carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients previously treated by primary surgical staging for endometrial carcinoma were imaged with integrated FDG PET/CT during surveillance. PET/CT findings were compared with histological or clinical evaluation, and the relationship between SUV(max) on PET/CT and recurrence was examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 61 patients were eligible for analysis. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for clinical data, treatment modalities and outcome. The median duration of follow-up was 31 months (range 6-102 months) post-treatment. SUV(max) levels were inversely associated with disease-free survival (DFS). Patients were divided into two groups according to SUV(max) (< 4.25 versus ≥ 4.25). The Kaplan-Meier survival graph showed a significant difference in DFS between groups [p < 0.001, hazard ratio (HR) 12.959, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.650-46.011]. In multivariate analyses, post-treatment SUV(max) (uncategorized values) evaluated by surveillance PET/CT (p = 0.001, HR 1.199, 95% CI 1.077-1.334) and serous adenocarcinoma histology (p = 0.028, HR 5.594, 95% CI 1.207-25.931) were significantly associated with recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Post-treatment FDG uptake as measured by SUV(max) showed a significant association with recurrence in patients with endometrial carcinoma and may be used as a new useful prognostic marker.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 28 Yongon-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Hoon
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Jae Weon
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Keon Wook
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Noh-Hyun
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yong-Sang
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: June-Key
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Soon-Beom
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001692:Biological Transport; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18