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Diagnostic Applications of Nuclear Medicine: Vulvar Cancer

Nuclear Oncology

  • 185 Accesses

Abstract

Vulvar cancer is an uncommon malignancy in females and is less frequently seen as compared to cervical or endometrial cancer. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, chronic lichen simplex infection, and genital warts are considered some of the predisposing factors. While metastases occur in late-stage disease (usually via lymphatic spread), many lesions are seen in the early stages. Anatomic imaging is the mainstay of evaluation for local extent. [18F]FDG PET imaging has incremental value for evaluation of equivocal lesions, assessing nodal status and detecting distant metastasis. Lymphoscintigraphy for sentinel node mapping is useful for surgical planning and limiting postoperative morbidity from extensive nodal dissection. This review summarizes the current status and emerging trends in imaging vulvar cancer using radiopharmaceuticals.

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Abbreviations

[18F]FDG:

2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose

AJCC:

American Joint Committee on Cancer

CT:

X-ray computed tomography

FIGO:

International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

GOG:

Gynecologic Oncology Group

GROINSS V:

GROningen INternational Study on Sentinel Lymph Nodes in Vulvar Cancer

HPE:

Histopathology exam

HPV:

Human papillomavirus

ICG:

Indocyanine green

ILN:

Inguinal lymph nodes

LN:

Lymph node

LSG:

Lymphoscintigraphy

M:

Metastasis status according to the AJCC/UICC TNM staging system

MIP:

Maximum intensity projection

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

N:

Lymph node status according to the AJCC/UICC TNM staging system

NA:

Not available

NCCN:

National Comprehensive Cancer Network

NIRF:

Near-infrared fluorescent imaging

NPV:

Negative predictive value

OS:

Overall survival

p16:

Gene encoding the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A, also known as multiple tumor suppressor 1

p53:

Gene encoding for tumor protein p53, also known as cellular tumor antigen p53, phosphoprotein p53, tumor suppressor p53, antigen NY-CO-13, or transformation-related protein 53 (TRP53)

PET:

Positron emission tomography

PET/CT:

Positron emission tomography/Computed tomography

PPV:

Positive predictive value

SCC:

Squamous cell carcinoma

SLN:

Sentinel lymph node

SN:

Sensitivity

SPECT:

Single-photon emission computed tomography

SPECT/CT:

Single-photon emission computed tomography/Computed tomography

SUV:

Standardized uptake value

SUVmax :

Standardized uptake value at point of maximum

T:

Tumor status according to the AJCC/UICC TNM staging system

TNM:

AJCC/UICC staging system based on parameters “T” (tumor status), “N” (lymph node status), and “M” (distant metastasis status)

UICC:

Union Internationale Contre le Cancer (International Union Against Cancer)

US:

Ultrasound

VIN:

Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

    Sonia Mahajan, Weining Ma & Neeta Pandit-Taskar

Authors
  1. Sonia Mahajan
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  2. Weining Ma
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  3. Neeta Pandit-Taskar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Neeta Pandit-Taskar .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Attending Emeritus, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Dept. Radiology, New York, New York, USA

    H. William Strauss

  2. Professor Emeritus, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Giuliano Mariani

  3. Associate Professor and Director of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Duccio Volterrani

  4. Attending Physician, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA

    Steven M. Larson

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Mahajan, S., Ma, W., Pandit-Taskar, N. (2016). Diagnostic Applications of Nuclear Medicine: Vulvar Cancer. In: Strauss, H., Mariani, G., Volterrani, D., Larson, S. (eds) Nuclear Oncology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26067-9_22-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26067-9_22-1

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Diagnostic Applications of Nuclear Medicine: Vulvar Cancer
    Published:
    20 May 2022

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26067-9_22-2

  2. Original

    Diagnostic Applications of Nuclear Medicine: Vulvar Cancer
    Published:
    08 November 2016

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26067-9_22-1

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