Head-to-Head Comparison of 18F-FDG and 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT for Radiological Evaluation of Cervical Cancer

Abstract

Purpose We aimed to compare the potential value of 68Ga-FAPI-04 and 18F-FDG PET/CT in primary cervical cancer and lymph node metastases. Methods Patients with cervical cancer underwent both 68Ga-FAPI-04 and 18F-FDG PET/CT. Histopathology and follow-up CT or MRI results (at least 3 months of follow-up) were used as reference criteria. Paired-sample t test was used to compare the SUVmax of 18F-FDG and 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT for cervical cancer primary lesions and metastatic lymph nodes. Results A total of 35 patients with a mean age of 53 ± 11 years (range, 30–76 years) were included. The detection rate of both tracers for primary tumors was 100%. There was no significant correlation between 18F-FDG and 68Ga-FAPI-04 for SUVmax (14.5 ± 5.7 vs 15.1 ± 6.2; P = 0.645). In addition, the detection rates of 68Ga-FAPI-04 and 18F-FDG for lymph node metastasis were 100% and 98%, respectively. No significant difference was found in SUVmax between 18F-FDG and 68Ga-FAPI-04 groups (7.6 ± 4.0 vs 7.0 ± 3.5; P = 0.572). Twelve false-positive lymph nodes were detected in 8 patients with 18F-FDG PET/CT, none of which were developed on 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT. Conclusion 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT has a high tracer rate for the diagnosis of primary cervical cancer and lymph node metastases. Moreover, 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT also showed good results in distinguishing metastatic lymph nodes from reactive lymph nodes of cervical cancer.