F-18 FDG PET Images of the Cervix at Various Time Points after the Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure.

F-18 FDG PET is useful for monitoring residual or recurrent tumors after surgical resection. We describe five F-18 FDG PET images of three patients who had cervical carcinoma and then underwent a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). Two of the images were taken within 15 days and three at least 2 months after LEEP. The earlier F-18 FDG PET images revealed linear hypermetabolic lesions in the cervix that were produced by inflammation. This was confirmed by pathological analysis. The later F-18 FDG PET images did not reveal any remarkable hypermetabolism in the cervix without any treatment. These observations suggest that, to determine the response to LEEP therapy, F-18 FDG PET should not be performed within 15 days of the procedure.