Diagnostic accuracy of 18F-FDG PET/CT in characterizing ovarian lesions and staging ovarian cancer: Correlation with transvaginal ultrasonography, computed tomography, and histology

Paolo Castellucci, Anna M. Perrone, Maria Picchio, Tullio Ghi, Mohsen Farsad, Cristina Nanni, Cristina Messa, Maria C. Meriggiola, Giuseppe Pelusi, Adil Al-Nahhas, Domenico Rubello, Ferruccio Fazio, Stefano Fanti

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

AIMS: To (a) assess the accuracy of F-FDG PET/CT in distinguishing malignant from benign pelvic lesions, compared to transvaginal ultrasonography (TVUS) and (b) to establish the role of whole-body F-FDG PET/CT, compared to contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT), in staging patients with ovarian cancer. PATIENTS: Fifty consecutive patients with a pelvic lesion, already scheduled for surgery on the basis of physical examination, TVUS, and serum Ca125 levels, were enrolled in the study. Patients' age ranged between 23 and 89 years (mean 64). All patients underwent TVUS including a colour Doppler study followed by a thorax and abdominal CT scan, and whole-body F-FDG PET/CT within 2 weeks prior to surgery. Histological findings obtained at surgery were taken as the 'gold standard' to compare F-FDG PET/CT and TVUS, and F-FDG PET/CT vs. CT. When tissue analysis showed ovarian cancer, the accuracy of F-FDG PET/CT and CT were compared for the purpose of obtaining a precise staging. RESULTS: At surgery, the ovarian lesions were malignant in 32/50 patients (64%) and benign in the remaining 18/50 patients (36%). The sensitivity, specificity, NPV, PPV and accuracy of F-FDG PET/CT were 87%, 100%, 81%, 100% and 92%, respectively, compared with 90%, 61%, 78%, 80% and 80%, respectively, for TVUS. In staging ovarian cancer, F-FDG PET/CT results were concordant with final pathological staging in 22/32 (69%) patients while CT results were concordant in 17/32 (53%) patients. CT incorrectly down-staged four out of six stage IV patients by missing distant metastasis in the liver, pleura, mediastinum, and in left supraclavicular lymph nodes, which were correctly detected by F-FDG PET/CT. CONCLUSION: PET/CT with F-FDG provides additional value to TVUS for the differential diagnosis of benign from malignant pelvic lesions, and to CT for the staging of ovarian cancer patients.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)589-595
Number of pages7
JournalNuclear Medicine Communications
Volume28
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2007

Keywords

  • F-FDG PET/CT
  • Computed tomography (CT)
  • Ovarian lesion
  • Transvaginal ultrasonography (TVUS)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Radiological and Ultrasound Technology

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