A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
FDG PET/CT in staging of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer: Frequency of supradiaphragmatic lymph node metastasis challenges the traditional pattern of disease spread
Authors: Hynninen J, Auranen A, Carpén O, Dean K, Seppänen M, Kemppainen J, Lavonius M, Lisinen I, Virtanen J, Grénman S
Publication year: 2012
Journal: Gynecologic Oncology
Journal name in source: Gynecologic Oncology
Number in series: 1
Volume: 126
Issue: 1
First page : 64
Last page: 68
Number of pages: 5
ISSN: 0090-8258
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygyno.2012.04.023
Web address : http://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id:84862761837
Abstract
Objective: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) spreads intra-abdominally and to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes. A greater number of distant metastases are revealed by F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) compared to conventional imaging methods. We aimed to investigate the presence and anatomic distribution of supradiaphragmatic lymph node metastasis (LNM) detected with pretreatment FDG PET/CT. Methods: Thirty women with advanced stage (IIC-IV) EOC were scanned with whole body contrast-enhanced FDG PET/CT prior to surgery/neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We performed PET/CT analysis qualitatively and quantitatively. Additionally, contrast-enhanced CT was analyzed blinded to PET/CT scan. Intra-abdominal dissemination was verified by surgery and histopathology. Metabolically active lymph nodes were biopsied when possible. The clinical characteristics of patients with and without supradiaphragmatic LNM were compared. Results: In 20/30patients (67%) FDG PET/CT detected supradiaphragmatic LNM in one or more locations, whereas conventional CT found LNM in 10 patients (33%). Fourteen patients had parasternal, 14 cardiophrenic, 8 other mediastinal, 6 axillar, and 1 subclavian LNM. Microscopy of all four biopsied lymph nodes (three axillar and one subclavian) confirmed metastatic dissemination. The patients with supradiaphragmatic LNM had significantly more ascites (p < 0.01), higher CA 125 levels, and more frequent subdiaphragmal carcinomatosis (p < 0.03) compared to patients without supradiaphragmatic LNM in preoperative FDG PET/CT. Conclusions: A significant number of patients with advanced EOC showed supradiaphragmatic LNM in pre-treatment PET/CT. Our findings suggest that the route of EOC cells from the peritoneal cavity to the lymphatic system permeates the diaphragm mainly to the cardiophrenic and continues to parasternal lymph nodes. © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Objective: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) spreads intra-abdominally and to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes. A greater number of distant metastases are revealed by F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) compared to conventional imaging methods. We aimed to investigate the presence and anatomic distribution of supradiaphragmatic lymph node metastasis (LNM) detected with pretreatment FDG PET/CT. Methods: Thirty women with advanced stage (IIC-IV) EOC were scanned with whole body contrast-enhanced FDG PET/CT prior to surgery/neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We performed PET/CT analysis qualitatively and quantitatively. Additionally, contrast-enhanced CT was analyzed blinded to PET/CT scan. Intra-abdominal dissemination was verified by surgery and histopathology. Metabolically active lymph nodes were biopsied when possible. The clinical characteristics of patients with and without supradiaphragmatic LNM were compared. Results: In 20/30patients (67%) FDG PET/CT detected supradiaphragmatic LNM in one or more locations, whereas conventional CT found LNM in 10 patients (33%). Fourteen patients had parasternal, 14 cardiophrenic, 8 other mediastinal, 6 axillar, and 1 subclavian LNM. Microscopy of all four biopsied lymph nodes (three axillar and one subclavian) confirmed metastatic dissemination. The patients with supradiaphragmatic LNM had significantly more ascites (p < 0.01), higher CA 125 levels, and more frequent subdiaphragmal carcinomatosis (p < 0.03) compared to patients without supradiaphragmatic LNM in preoperative FDG PET/CT. Conclusions: A significant number of patients with advanced EOC showed supradiaphragmatic LNM in pre-treatment PET/CT. Our findings suggest that the route of EOC cells from the peritoneal cavity to the lymphatic system permeates the diaphragm mainly to the cardiophrenic and continues to parasternal lymph nodes. © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.