Gynecologic cancers are a common cause of morbidity and mortality in women of all ages. While many gynecologic cancers are staged clinically using the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system, imaging can be a useful adjunct to clinical staging. Cross sectional imaging techniques such as ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been used to detect and follow patients with gynecologic cancer. These imaging modalities can show anatomic detail and morphologic changes in the female genitourinary tract to good advantage. Positron emission tomography (PET) differs in that it shows functional information that is not easily obtained by the other cross sectional imaging techniques. The fusion of PET with CT allows anatomic localization of functional abnormalities in the female genital tract and thereby allows the detection of gross disease in many malignant conditions both within and outside the confines of the female pelvis. The utility and limitations of imaging common gynecologic tumors such as cervical, ovarian and endometrial cancer are discussed with particular emphasis on PET/CT imaging.

Author

Revathy B. Iyer, Aparna Balachandran and Catherine E. Devine

Contact Details

Corresponding address:
Revathy B. Iyer, MD, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Unit 368, Houston, TX 77030, USA

Reference

ICIS Cancer Imaging Volume 7 Special Issue A
DOI: 10.1102/1470-7330.2007.9015

Date Posted

1 October 2007

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