F-18 FLUORODEOXYGLUCOSE PET IN OVARIAN-CA RCINOMA - METHODOLOGY AND PRELIMINARY-RESULTS

Aim of the present study was to evalute (18)FDG PET as a diagnostic to ol in primary and recurrent ovarian cancer. Methods: PET of the abdome n and the pelvis was performed in 26 patients suspected for primary (n = 17) or recurrent (n = 9) ovarian cancer with an ECAT 953/15 scanner 45 min after intravenous administration of 245 MBq F-18-FDG (mean). P ET findings were validated by surgery, histology and/or cytology. Resu lts: Ovarian malignancies or recurrent ovarian cancer were demonstrate d by PET in 16 out of 19 cases. Malignancy was excluded in six out of seven cases. False negative findings were obtained in two cases of low malignant potential tumors (LMP) and in one case of low grade serous/ mucinous ovarian cystadenocarcinoma. PET yielded one false positive re sult in a case of salpingoophoritis. Quantitative analysis revealed a mean SUV of 6.8 +/- 2.3 in primary ovarian carcinoma vs. 2.6 +/- 1.2 i n benign masses (p <0.05). Conclusion: These preliminary data show (18 )FDG PET to be useful in diagnosis of recurrent ovarian cancer. PET is of limited use in differentiating LMP from benign tumors and ovarian cancer from inflammatory processes. Concerning this differentiation, q uantitative analysis does not improve diagnostic accuracy.