Quantitative imaging of uterine cancers with diffusion-weighted MRI and 18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT

Staging of Cervical Cancer: A Practical Approach Using MRI and FDG PET

This review provides a practical approach to the imaging evaluation of patients with cervical cancer (CC), from initial diagnosis to restaging of recurrence, focusing on MRI and FDG PET. The primary updates to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) CC staging system, as well as these updates' relevance to clinical management, are discussed. The recent literature investigating the role of MRI and FDG PET in CC staging and image-guided brachytherapy is summarized. The utility of MRI and FDG PET in response assessment and posttreatment surveillance is described. Important findings on MRI and FDG PET that interpreting radiologists should recognize and report are illustrated. The essential elements of structured reports during various phases of CC management are outlined. Special considerations, including the role of imaging in patients desiring fertility-sparing management, differentiation of CC and endometrial cancer, and unusual CC histologies, are also described. Finally, future research directions including PET/MRI, novel PET tracers, and artificial intelligence applications are highlighted.

Sex Cord-Stromal Tumors of the Ovary

Ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors (OSCSTs) are a rare group of ovarian neoplasms that can be benign or malignant. They are classified into pure sex cord tumors, pure stromal tumors, and mixed SCST. The most common malignant OSCSTs are adult granulosa cell tumors. In contrast to the more common ovarian epithelial malignancies, OSCSTs present in younger patients, often at early stages, with better prognoses. Imaging features are variable, and pathology is required for diagnosis. However, certain tumors demonstrate characteristic imaging appearances that can be useful in narrowing the differential diagnosis.

Metabolic response to radiation therapy in cancer

Tumor metabolism has emerged as a hallmark of cancer and is involved in carcinogenesis and tumor growth. Reprogramming of tumor metabolism is necessary for cancer cells to sustain high proliferation rates and enhanced demands for nutrients. Recent studies suggest that metabolic plasticity in cancer cells can decrease the efficacy of anticancer therapies by enhancing antioxidant defenses and DNA repair mechanisms. Studying radiation-induced metabolic changes will lead to a better understanding of radiation response mechanisms as well as the identification of new therapeutic targets, but there are few robust studies characterizing the metabolic changes induced by radiation therapy in cancer. In this review, we will highlight studies that provide information on the metabolic changes induced by radiation and oxidative stress in cancer cells and the associated underlying mechanisms.