Pitfalls in [¹⁸F]FDG PET imaging in gynecological malignancies

Q J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2016 Jun;60(2):124-38. Epub 2016 Mar 3.

Abstract

Gynecologic malignancies are the leading causes of cancer in women and they represent about 10 to 20% of all solid tumors. During the past few decades, technological advancements in the detection and staging have gained a pivotal role in all oncological processes, including the gynecological ones. Beyond ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging that are conventionally used for anatomical imaging, [18F]FDG imaging and its hybrid further development as PET/CT has become a crucial tool due of its ability to combine functional metabolic and anatomic information, and the ability to image the entire whole body in a single examination. Since the introduction of integrated hybrid PET/CT systems into clinical practice the accurate analysis of the images has detected a number of limitations and pitfalls. The purpose of this review was to describe in detail the different pitfalls related to the use of [18F]FDG PET/CT in the gynecological malignancies, providing imaging examples and discussing possible ways to avoid misinterpretations.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biological Transport
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female / diagnostic imaging*
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female / metabolism
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female / pathology
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*

Substances

  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18