WASHINGTON, D.C.An advanced molecular imaging technique influenced the management of women with ovarian cancer, detected more sites of disease and identified women whose disease was likely to progress, according to an Australian study released during the 54th Annual Meeting of SNM, the world's largest society for molecular imaging and nuclear medicine professionals.

The study shows that positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging "is a much better test for patients with suspected recurrent ovarian cancer and is the preferred imaging technique," said Michael J Fulham, professor and clinical director of Medical Imaging at Sydney South West Area Health Service and head of the Department of PET and Nuclear Medicine at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, Australia.

"PET/CTusing fluorodeoxyglucose or FDGdetected many more sites of disease than were found with routine imaging both within and outside the abdomen," said Fulham in relaying the study's results. "PET/CT influenced treatment decisions in 59 percent of the 90 women and identified those whose disease was more likely to progress within 12 months," he added. "Our findings also suggest that there is an opportunity for technology replacementreplacing routine CT of the abdomen and pelviswith PET/CT with the radiotracer FDG, thus reducing costs and providing better answers for patients and referring doctors," said Fulham.

Ovarian cancercancer that forms in tissues of the ovaryis the leading cause of death in women with gynecologic cancer, noted Fulham. In the United States, reports indicate that more than 22,000 new cases and more than 15,000 deaths attributed to ovarian cancer are expected this year. "Unfortunately, while positive results are possible if the disease is detected early, most women have advanced disease by the time they are first diagnosed," said Fulham.

Initial treatment is surgery followed by chemotherapy. If the cancer recurs, the
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Contact: Maryann Verrillo
mverrillo@snm.org
703-652-6773
Society of Nuclear Medicine
4-Jun-2007