The role of 18F-FDG PET CT in common gynaecological malignancies

Abstract

[fluorine-18]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET CT) has increasing clinical applications supplementing conventional TVUS, CT and MRI imaging in assessing ovarian, cervical and endometrial cancer. The published literature on the applications of 18F-FDG PET CT shows its use can have significant impact on patient management by improving staging of the cancers, influencing patient selection for treatment and in detecting early recurrent disease. However, the increasing clinical use of PET CT does not always align with the guidelines, recommendations or expert opinion in the use of PET CT. This article summarizes the existing evidence base for the established clinical applications and the emerging roles for 18F-FDG PET CT in the common gynaecological malignancies.