Role of F-FDG PET/CT in restaging and follow-up of patients with uterine sarcomas.

PURPOSE

Uterine sarcomas are rare tumors with poor prognosis due to the high recurrence rates. The current role of F-FDG PET/CT in the post-therapy surveillance is not established yet.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-one women with uterine sarcoma underwent 73 F-FDG PET/CT for restaging in suspected recurrence or during follow-up in asymptomatic patients. Histopathology results and/or clinical/imaging follow-up for at least 12 months were considered the reference standard. The diagnostic accuracy and clinical impact of F-FDG PET/CT was calculated.

RESULTS

Thirty-three F-FDG PET/CT were positive, while the remaining 40 studies were negative. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy of F-FDG PET/CT were 88%, 98%, 97%, 91% and 93%, respectively. Considering patients with clinical or radiological suspicion of recurrence (n=47) and those during follow-up (n=26), sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy of F-FDG PET/CT were 89%, 100%, 100%, 86% and 94%, and 80%, 95%, 80%, 95% and 92%, respectively. F-FDG PET/CT had a positive clinical impact in 9/73 (12%) studies and changed the clinical management in 8/41 (20%) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

F-FDG PET/CT seems to be an accurate method for detection and localization of local and distant recurrence in patients with uterine sarcoma with good sensitivity and specificity and significant impact on clinical decision making.