Recommendations for the use of functional medical imaging in the management of cancer of the cervix in New Zealand: a rapid review.
Authors
Affiliations (2)
Affiliations (2)
- Te Toka Tumai | Auckland City Hospital, Radiology Department, Auckland, New Zealand.
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Abstract
We aimed to review the role of functional imaging in cervical cancer to underscore its significance in the diagnosis and management of cervical cancer and in improving patient outcomes. This rapid literature review targeting the clinical guidelines for functional imaging in cervical cancer sourced literature from 2017 to 2023 using PubMed, Google Scholar, MEDLINE and Scopus. Keywords such as cervical cancer, cervical neoplasms, functional imaging, stag*, treatment response, monitor* and New Zealand or NZ were used with Boolean operators to maximise results. Emphasis was on English full research studies pertinent to New Zealand. The study quality of the reviewed articles was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklists. The search yielded a total of 21 papers after all duplicates and yields that did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded. Only one paper was found to incorporate the New Zealand context. The papers reviewed yielded results that demonstrate the important role of functional imaging in cervical cancer diagnosis, staging and treatment response monitoring. Techniques such as dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI), diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI), computed tomography perfusion (CTP) and positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET/CT) provide deep insights into tumour behaviour, facilitating personalised care. Integration of artificial intelligence in image analysis promises increased accuracy of these modalities. Functional imaging could play a significant role in a unified approach in New Zealand to improve patient outcomes for cervical cancer management. Therefore, this study advocates for New Zealand's medical sector to harness functional imaging's potential in cervical cancer management.