Health · Medical Research · 1 day ago
FAPI PET scan detects ovarian cancer spread more accurately than CT
Doctors in Bengaluru studied a newer PET scan in 200 women with ovarian cancer before surgery.
The scan uses a tracer called FAPI to help show cancer deposits on the lining of the abdomen, where ovarian cancer can spread.
The team compared FAPI PET/CT and contrast-enhanced CT scans with what surgeons found during operations.
FAPI PET detected this spread with 81.8% sensitivity, compared with 54.6% for CT, and had higher overall accuracy.
Knowing how far the cancer has spread can help doctors decide whether surgery is suitable or chemotherapy should come first.
FAPI PET findings changed treatment decisions for about 18% to 21% of patients in the study, and the scan might help some patients avoid an invasive examination.
The study was done at one centre, and further prospective studies are needed; FAPI PET is available at only a limited number of cancer centres in India.
A study found that FAPI PET/CT detected ovarian cancer spread inside the abdomen more accurately than contrast-enhanced CT.
The prospective study involved 200 women and compared scan results with findings during surgery.
FAPI PET/CT had 81.8% sensitivity and 86% overall accuracy, compared with 54.6% sensitivity and 78% accuracy for CT.
CT tended to underestimate the extent of disease, which can affect decisions about surgery or chemotherapy before surgery.
The researchers said the study was conducted at one centre and that further prospective studies are needed.
- Who
- A team of doctors at Aster International Institute of Oncology in Bengaluru studied 200 women with ovarian cancer.
- What
- The study found that 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT detected abdominal cancer spread more accurately than contrast-enhanced CT.
- When
- The study was conducted from May 2024 to April 2025 and published on October 11, 2026.
- Where
- Aster International Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, India.
- Why
- Accurately assessing cancer spread can help doctors decide whether patients should have surgery or chemotherapy before surgery.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
No direct quotes in the coverage so far.
Researchers at Aster International Institute of Oncology conducted the study before cytoreductive surgery.
The study was reported as published in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
- Study participants
- 200 women with ovarian cancer
- FAPI sensitivity
- 81.8%
- CT sensitivity
- 54.6%
- FAPI overall accuracy
- 86%
- CT overall accuracy
- 78%
- Study location
- Aster International Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru
Sources
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