We studied the diagnostic performance of ¹⁸F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography in cervical and endometrial cancers with particular focus on lymph node metastases. Seventy patients with cervical cancer and 53 with endometrial cancer were imaged with ¹⁸F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography before lymphadenectomy. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of ¹⁸F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography using the final pathological diagnoses as the golden standard. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of ¹⁸F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography. In cervical cancer, the results evaluated by cases were 33.3, 92.7, 55.6 and 83.6%, respectively. When evaluated by the area of lymph nodes, the results were 30.6, 98.9, 55.0 and 97.0%, respectively. As for endometrial cancer, the results evaluated by cases were 50.0, 93.9, 40.0 and 95.8%, and by area of lymph nodes, 45.0, 99.4, 64.3 and 98.5%, respectively. The limitation of the efficacy was found out by analyzing it by the region of the lymph node, the size of metastatic node, the historical type of tumor in cervical cancer and the prevalence of lymph node metastasis. The efficacy of positron emission tomography/computed tomography regarding the detection of lymph node metastasis in cervical and endometrial cancer is not established and has limitations associated with the region of the lymph node, the size of metastasis lesion in lymph node and the pathological type of primary tumor. The indication for the imaging and the interpretation of the results requires consideration for each case by the pretest probability based on the information obtained preoperatively.

Aim: To assess the impact of COVID‐19 on cervical cancer screening.Method: The Japanese Society of Gynecologic Oncology launched COVID‐19 Task Force surveyed the municipalities in urban areas of Japan. Questionnaires were sent to 20 ordinance‐designated cities and 23 wards of Tokyo metropolitan area in Japan via telephone and mail in January 2021. An additional survey was conducted in March and April 2021, counted the monthly checkups in 2020 and, as a control data, the number of monthly checkups in 2019. “The State of Emergency” between April 7 and May 25, 2020, included 13 prefectures. The data collected in this research involved the number of screenings only. The chi‐square test was performed for statistical analysis.Results: The number of cancer screenings from March to August, with May being the month with the lowest number of screenings, was less than 50% of that in the previous year. In particular, the drop in the number of cancer screenings in the “Prefectures operating under special safety precautions” was remarkable and significantly lower than that in other Prefectures. However, after August, the number recovered to the usual level, despite the second wave of the pandemic occurring nationwide. The initial “the State of Emergency” caused a significant decrease in the number of people receiving population‐based screenings, but the recovery has been remarkable, and the total number is expected to be the same as in previous years.Conclusion: The initial “the State of Emergency” caused a significant decrease in the number of people receiving population‐based screenings.

Nogami Y, et al. J Gynecol Oncol. 2021 Nov;33(1):e8. https://doi.org/10.3802/jgo.2022.33.e8

Endometrial cancer is a common gynecological malignant tumor in Western countries and its incidence has also been on the increase in Asia. genetic abnormalities related to onset and progression of malignancy in the endometrial membrane and signaling system have been identified and the developmental mechanism of endometrial cancer is becoming elucidated. The identification of the molecules related to these abnormalities has led to new potential treatment regimens for endometrial cancer, using molecular‑targeted drugs. The current chemotherapy for endometrial cancer often causes systemic side effects that require discontinuation of the treatment. Furthermore, a treatment regimen for cancers of rare histological types has not been established. Recent studies on endometrial cancer revealed patterns of genetic disorders that differ among the histological types. genetic and molecular information that underlie pathological changes and is associated with DNA mismatch repair genes and epigenetic regulation was also identified. Targeting of these mechanisms with molecular‑targeted drugs has been performed with the aim of linking treatment to the carcinogenic mechanism at the molecular and genetic levels. however, the response rates with single‑agent therapy are generally low and several problems remain unresolved. Trials of combinations of molecular‑targeted drugs with currently available treatments and identification of factors determining sensitivity are required to overcome these difficulties.