The efficacy of radionuclide liver and bone scans in the evaluation of gynecologic cancers

Abstract

Between 1978 and 1980, 33 patients with cervical cancer, 40 patients with ovarian cancer, and 28 patients with uterine cancer underwent clinical diagnostic staging. Fifty-four patients had bone scans, and 101 patients received liver scans as a part of their staging work-up. No positive bone scan results were found. Eight of 33 patients with Stage IV disease had positive liver scan results consistent with hepatic metastases. Only 1 of 69 patients with Stage I-III disease had a positive test for metastases. While these numbers are small, the authors conclude that bone and liver scanning in asymptomatic patients with early stage gynecologic cancers may not be warranted as staging procedures.