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Evaluating the Use of 18F-FDG PET CT for External Beam Radiotherapy Planning in Gynaecological Malignancies

  • Gynecologic Cancers (NS Reed, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Oncology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

To evaluate the evidence for the use of fluorine-18-fluorodeoyglucose (18F-FDG) PET CT in external beam radiotherapy planning for treatment of gynaecological malignancies.

Recent Findings

Our review confirms that the incorporation of 18F-FDG PET CT during radiotherapy planning may decrease inter-observer variability during target delineation. It can also provide useful functional information regarding the tumour, which may facilitate the development of techniques for dose escalation and ‘dose painting’ not only for primary disease, especially in cervical cancer, but also nodal metastasis.

Summary

The utilisation of this functional modality in external beam radiotherapy planning, particularly in locally advanced cervical malignancy, is an exciting topic that warrants further prospective research. Perhaps the most valuable role may be the potential to deliver dose escalation to 18F-FDG PET CT avid targets previously limited by organ at risk constraints, now that we have significantly more advanced radiotherapy planning tools at our disposal.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow, G12 0YN, UK

    Ashleigh Kerr, Nicholas Reed, Rosie Harrand, Kathryn Graham & Azmat H. Sadozye

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  1. Ashleigh Kerr
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  2. Nicholas Reed
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  3. Rosie Harrand
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  5. Azmat H. Sadozye
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Correspondence to Azmat H. Sadozye.

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Ashleigh Kerr, Nicholas Reed, Rosie Harrand, Kathryn Graham, and Azmat H. Sadozye declare they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Gynecologic Cancers

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Kerr, A., Reed, N., Harrand, R. et al. Evaluating the Use of 18F-FDG PET CT for External Beam Radiotherapy Planning in Gynaecological Malignancies. Curr Oncol Rep 20, 84 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-018-0735-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-018-0735-5

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