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Prognostic value of lymph node-to-primary tumor standardized uptake value ratio in endometrioid endometrial carcinoma

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Abstract

Purpose

To determine whether the relative metabolic activity of pelvic or para-aortic LN compared with that of primary tumor measured by preoperative [18F]FDG PET/CT scan has prognostic value in patients with endometrioid endometrial carcinoma.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed patients with endometrioid endometrial carcinoma who underwent preoperative [18F]FDG PET/CT scans. Prognostic values of PET/CT-derived metabolic variables such as maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) of the primary endometrial carcinoma (SUVTumor) and LN (SUVLN), and the LN-to-endometrial carcinoma SUV ratio (SUVLN / SUVTumor) were assessed.

Results

Clinico-pathological data, imaging data, and treatment results were reviewed for 107 eligible patients. Median post-surgical follow-up was 23 months (range, 6–60), and 7 (6.5%) patients experienced recurrence. Regression analysis showed that SUVLN / SUVTumor (P < 0.001), SUVLN (P = 0.003), International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage (P = 0.006), and tumor grade (P = 0.011) were risk factors of recurrence. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that FIGO stage (P = 0.034) was the independent risk factor of recurrence. SUVLN / SUVTumor showed significant correlation with FIGO stage (P < 0.001), LN metastasis (P < 0.001), lymphovascular space invasion (P < 0.001), recurrence (P = 0.001), tumor grade (P < 0.001), and deep myometrial invasion of tumor (P = 0.022). Patient groups categorized by SUVLN / SUVTumor showed significant difference in progression-free survival (Log-rank test, P = 0.001).

Conclusions

Preoperative SUVLN / SUVTumor measured by [18F]FDG PET/CT was significantly associated with recurrence, and may become a novel prognostic factor in patients with endometrioid endometrial carcinoma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea

    Hyun Hoon Chung, Jae-Weon Kim, Noh-Hyun Park & Yong Sang Song

  2. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea

    Gi Jeong Cheon

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  1. Hyun Hoon Chung
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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. For this type of retrospective study, formal consent is not required.

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Chung, H.H., Cheon, G.J., Kim, JW. et al. Prognostic value of lymph node-to-primary tumor standardized uptake value ratio in endometrioid endometrial carcinoma. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 45, 47–55 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-017-3805-2

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