Detection of Recurrence with FDG-PET Scan in Patients with Endometrial Cancer

Hong, Seong Jin; Lee, Sam Mi; Park, Chun Sook; Kim, Ho A; Kim, Bup Jong; Kim, Moon Hong; Choi, Suck Chul; Ryu, Sang Young; Lee, Kyeong Hee

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-Positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scan for detecting early recurrence in patients with endometrial cancer who showed no evidence of the disease after primary treatment.
METHODS
A total of 14 patients, diagnosed and treated for endometrial cancer with surgery and/or subsequent radiotherapy, were included. Whole-body FDG-PET scanning was performed on 14 patients. PET images were interpreted was suspicious for malignancy in areas of localized FDG uptake compared to the surrounding tissues. computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or fine needle biopsy were performed to evaluate positive FDG uptakes, and all patients were closely followed up at least for 6 months.
RESULTS
Of the 14 patients, 2 recurrences were detected by FDG-PET scan. One of these two patients had increased FDG uptake in abdomen, which was negative on CT, and was confirmed to be recurrent 3 month later on follow-up CT. The other patient had a single focus of hypermetabolic activity in right upper quadrant of abdomen, which was correspondent to 5 cm sized hypodense mass along the right anterior segment of the liver on CT scan, and was confirmed to have adenocarcinoma cell on a needle biopsy.
CONCLUSION
These preliminary data demonstrate the feasibility of FDG-PET imaging in detection of early recurrence in patients with endometrial cancer. Further prospective evaluation of FDG-PET in larger numbers of patients with endometrial cancer is warranted to more precisely define its accuracy.