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PET/CT Scan Shows Promise as Noninvasive Tool for Staging Ovarian Cancer NEW YORK -- June 18, 2008 -- Combined positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) scanning of patients with early-stage ovarian cancer can enable physicians to determine whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes without having to perform surgery. As a result, unnecessary surgeries could be reduced, which would also lower morbidity rates and postoperative complications in patients with ovarian cancer. Previous studies have examined the potential of PET technology, but have not indicated a definite role in the staging of ovarian cancer. In addition, the studies involved a very small group of women and did not involve the combined PET/CT scanners. "Our preliminary research indicates that using PET/CT scanning in this way could greatly improve quality of life for many patients with ovarian cancer," said lead researcher Luca Guerra, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy. "PET/CT scans could allow many women to forego major abdominal surgery to determine whether their cancer has spread. It's a much safer alternative for determining the stages of ovarian cancer." Although CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologies are useful in determining surgery in advanced cases of the disease, both have limited accuracy in determining stages of ovarian cancer. While systematic lymphadenectomy is more accurate in determining whether the cancer has spread, the surgery takes longer, often requires blood transfusions, and can result in life-threatening complications. If all early-stage ovarian cancer patients underwent lymphadenectomy, approximately 75% of the surgeries would prove unnecessary. In their research, Guerra and colleagues examined the results of 30 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer who underwent PET/CT scanning prior to surgery to determine the stage of their disease. The results indicated that PET/CT staging was correct in 67% of patients and more than 98% accurate in scanning the lymph nodes of patients with stage I or stage II ovarian cancer. These very promising results need to be confirmed in a larger patient population. SOURCE: Society of Nuclear Medicine, SNM E-mail this page to a friend or colleague! To print, use this version