Role of 18F-choline and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in combination with magnetic resonance imaging in brachytherapy planning for locally advanced cervical cancer: A Pilot study

Background and PurposeThis pilot study aims to describe the advantages of combining metabolic anatomic imaging modalities in brachytherapy (BT) planning for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) evaluate supplementary value Fluoro(F)-Choline positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) comparison 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) this setting.Materials MethodsA prospective cohort six patients with LACC was included study. Each patient underwent BT CT scan, magnetic resonance (MRI), both FDG F-Choline PET/CT scans on same day, applicators place. Patients were treated according standard care. Metabolic target volumes (TV) generated retrospectively compared using Dice coefficients absolute volume comparison.ResultsThe threshold at which most concordant found be 35% maximum standardized uptake (SUV max) scans. Amongst cohort, three four have more than ten percent ratio excess (increase) their MRI gross tumor (GTV) when incorporating information from However, no significant changes needed high risk-clinical (CTVHR) PET tracers.ConclusionsFDG can substantially modify GTV MRI, without affecting CTVHR. is potentially informative assessing residual TV, particularly cases post-radiation inflammatory changes.