Study of the clinical use of positron emission tomography in the practice of oncological gynecology at the women’s hospital

Abstract

PET (Positron Emission Tomography) with 18-fluorine-deoxy-glucose (18FDG) as a radiopharmaceutical is a diagnostic technique for non-invasive nuclear medicine whose indications are mainly linked to oncological pathologies.
Objective: to assess the indication and impact of PET with 18FDG in the care of women with gynecological oncological pathology.
Study: retrospective descriptive by reviewing medical records of patients with gynecological cancer assisted at the Women's Hospital (HM), who underwent a PET with 18FDG in the diagnostic evaluation or in the follow-up in the period between 1/1/2014 and 12/31/2017. A total of 68 patients were analyzed in which 112 PET were performed with 18FDG. Regarding the indication, in cases of neck cancer (CC), the majority (51.5%) of PET
they were performed on suspicion of recurrence; in breast cancer (CM) in the evolutionary control, (44.6%); in cancers of
endometrium (EC) on suspicion of recurrence (50%); in ovarian cancers 37.5% on suspicion of recurrence and equal
percentage in evolutionary control; in vulvar (CV) cancers in post-treatment control or suspected recurrence (50% each).
Regarding the impact on clinical behavior, overall, in CC cases, 60% of the studies carried out determined
changes in clinical behavior; in the CM, 49%; in the EC, 43%; in CO, 50%; in CVs, 50%. PET with 18FDG
It is a technique that has been incorporated into gynecological clinical practice and still requires incorporating the guidelines of its
utilization.