Prognostic importance of lymph node-to-primary tumor standardized uptake value ratio in invasive squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix

Abstract

Purpose

Using integrated PET/CT, we evaluated the prognostic value of [¹⁸F]FDG uptake ratio between pelvic lymph node (LN) and primary tumor in invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA) of the uterine cervix.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stages IB to IIA cervical SCCA who underwent preoperative [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT scans. PET/CT parameters such as maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) of the primary cervical cancer (SUV_cervix) and LN (SUV_LN), and the LN-to-cervical cancer SUV ratio (SUV_LN/SUV_cervix) were assessed. Prognostic values of PET/CT-derived metabolic and volumetric variables and clinicopathology parameters were analyzed to predict progression-free survival (PFS) in regression analyses.

Results

Clinical data, treatment modalities, and results were reviewed for 103 eligible patients. Median post-surgical follow-up was 29 months (range, 6–89), and 19 (18.5%) patients experienced recurrence. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that SUV_LN / SUV_cervix > 0.1747(P = 0.048) was the independent risk factor of recurrence. Patient group categorized by SUV_LN/SUV_cervix showed significant difference in PFS (log-rank test, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Preoperative SUV_LN/SUV_cervix measured by [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT was significantly associated with recurrence, and has an incremental prognostic value for PFS in patients with cervical SCCA.

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