Abstract: Objective To investigate the predictive value of 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters for the efficacy of chemoradiotherapy for stage ⅡB cervical cancer. Methods A total of 29 patients with stage ⅡB cervical cancer who underwent concurrent chemoradiotherapy were retrospectively analyzed on a cohort basis. Before treatment, 18F-FDG PET/CT whole body imaging examination was performed, and metabolic parameters, including maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax), average standardized uptake values (SUVavg), minimum standardized uptake values (SUVmin), peak standardized uptake values (SUVpeak), tumor metabolic volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) of the lesion, were obtained. According to the efficacy evaluation criteria, the patients were divided into the radio-chemotherapy sensitive group and the radio-chemotherapy resistant group. The relationship between 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters and the efficacy of chemoradiotherapy for stage ⅡB cervical cancer was compared. The value in predicting the efficacy of chemoradiotherapy was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results The SUVmax, SUVavg, SUVpeak and SUVmin values of the radiochemotherapy sensitive group were insignificantly different from those of the radiochemotherapy resistance group (all P>0.05), while there were statistically significant differences in TLG and MTV values between two groups (P=0.025, 0.009). The area under the ROC curve of TLG and MTV were 0.753 and 0.793, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MTV in predicting the efficacy of chemoradiotherapy were 77.8%, 81.8%, and 79.3%, respectively; TLG were 66.7%, 81.8%, and 75.3%, respectively.  Conclusions 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters have a good predictive value for the efficacy of chemoradiotherapy for stage ⅡB cervical cancer.

Key words:  Cervical cancer, 18F-FDG PET/CT , Chemoradiotherapy sensitivity, MTV, TLG