Molecular Imaging of Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy and the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Over the past decade, medical imaging has played an increasingly valuable role in the diagnosis, staging, and treatment planning of the disease. In this Molecular Imaging Focus review, we seek to provide a brief yet informative survey of the current state of the molecular imaging of ovarian cancer. The article is divided into sections according to modality, covering recent advances in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), ultrasound imaging (US), and optical imaging (OI) of ovarian cancer. While primary emphasis is given to clinical studies, particularly innovative and promising preclinical investigations are discussed as well. Ultimately, we are hopeful that the combination of technological innovations, novel imaging probes, and the further integration of imaging into clinical protocols will lead to significant improvements in the survival rates for ovarian cancer.