Cervical cancer evaluated with integrated ¹⁸F-FDG PET/MR

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Cervical cancer diagnosis and staging rely on various imaging techniques.
• Integrated 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance (PET/MR) offers comprehensive functional and anatomical information.
• Understanding the correlation between PET and MR imaging biomarkers and pathological factors is crucial for prognosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the correlation between maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and minimum apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCmin) in cervical cancer.
• To determine the association of these imaging biomarkers with pathological prognostic factors.
• To assess the diagnostic value of SUVmax and ADCmin for predicting cervical cancer characteristics.

Main Methods:

• 46 patients with pathologically diagnosed cervical cancer underwent integrated PET/MR imaging before surgery.
• SUVmax from PET and ADCmin from MRI were measured.
• Correlation analysis (Pearson's) and comparative analysis (Mann-Whitney U test) were performed with pathological factors (tumor size, grade, FIGO stage, lymph node metastasis).

Main Results:

• A significant negative correlation was observed between SUVmax and ADCmin (r=-0.700; P<0.001).
• SUVmax was significantly increased in poorly differentiated tumors, FIGO stage IIB, and with lymph node metastasis.
• ADCmin was significantly decreased in poorly differentiated tumors and FIGO stage IIB.
• SUVmax showed higher diagnostic value for lymph node metastasis and FIGO staging, while ADCmin was superior for pathological differentiation grade.

Conclusions:

• SUVmax and ADCmin are significantly negatively correlated in cervical cancer.
• Both SUVmax and ADCmin correlate with important pathological prognostic factors, including tumor differentiation, FIGO stage, and lymph node metastasis.
• Integrated PET/MR imaging biomarkers hold potential for non-invasively assessing cervical cancer prognosis.