Case Report

A False-Positive Vaginal Cuff PET/CT Finding Mimicking Recurrence After Multimodal Treatment of HPV-Independent Gastric-Type Endocervical Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report

Volume: 26 Number: 2 September 30, 2026
TR EN

A False-Positive Vaginal Cuff PET/CT Finding Mimicking Recurrence After Multimodal Treatment of HPV-Independent Gastric-Type Endocervical Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report

Abstract

Objective: To describe a false-positive vaginal cuff positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) finding mimicking recurrence after multimodal treatment of HPV-independent gastric-type endocervical adenocarcinoma (GEA), and to discuss the assessment of discordant imaging and histopathological findings.

Methods: This case report was reconstructed from clinical records, operative notes, histopathology reports, and imaging reports from a tertiary gynecologic oncology unit. Treatment decisions were made by a multidisciplinary tumor board, and written informed consent was obtained for anonymized publication.

Results: A 55-year-old woman with ASC-H cytology and positive high-risk HPV testing underwent loop electrosurgical excision showing HPV-independent endocervical adenocarcinoma favoring gastric type. Following radical hysterectomy and surgical staging, final pathology demonstrated a 2.3-cm GEA with 9-mm stromal invasion in a 10- mm cervical wall, lymphovascular space invasion, and corporeal extension. The parametria, surgical margins, and lymph nodes were negative, establishing pT1b2 pN0, FIGO 2018 stage IB2 disease. Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy and vaginal brachytherapy were completed. During surveillance, three separate vaginal cuff biopsy sessions showed benign post-treatment changes, and pelvic magnetic resonance imaging revealed no lesion suggestive of recurrence. Approximately 15 months after radical surgery, PET/CT demonstrated new focal FDG uptake immediately inferior to the right vaginal cuff (SUVmax 5.8). Because the previous biopsies predated this PET/CT examination and clinical concern persisted, laparoscopic vaginectomy was performed after multidisciplinary assessment. Excision showed active chronic inflammation, hemorrhagic changes, and fibrolipomatous tissue, without residual or recurrent carcinoma.

Conclusion: Isolated vaginal cuff FDG uptake after multimodal treatment does not establish recurrence. Histopathological confirmation should be obtained whenever feasible before radical salvage treatment or systemic therapy for presumed recurrence. When findings remain discordant, further sampling or excision should be individualized through multidisciplinary assessment.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Gynecologic Oncology Surgery

Journal Section

Case Report

Publication Date

September 30, 2026

Submission Date

August 22, 2026

Acceptance Date

September 18, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 26 Number: 2

APA
Bayrak, Y. M., Tunç, S., Arslan, Y., & Güner, G. (2026). A False-Positive Vaginal Cuff PET/CT Finding Mimicking Recurrence After Multimodal Treatment of HPV-Independent Gastric-Type Endocervical Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report. Türk Jinekolojik Onkoloji Dergisi, 26(2), 91-97. https://izlik.org/JA79FM58CX
AMA
1.Bayrak YM, Tunç S, Arslan Y, Güner G. A False-Positive Vaginal Cuff PET/CT Finding Mimicking Recurrence After Multimodal Treatment of HPV-Independent Gastric-Type Endocervical Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report. Türk Jinekolojik Onkoloji Dergisi. 2026;26(2):91-97. https://izlik.org/JA79FM58CX
Chicago
Bayrak, Yiğit Mert, Süleyman Tunç, Yağmur Arslan, and Gazi Güner. 2026. “A False-Positive Vaginal Cuff PET CT Finding Mimicking Recurrence After Multimodal Treatment of HPV-Independent Gastric-Type Endocervical Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report”. Türk Jinekolojik Onkoloji Dergisi 26 (2): 91-97. https://izlik.org/JA79FM58CX.
EndNote
Bayrak YM, Tunç S, Arslan Y, Güner G (September 1, 2026) A False-Positive Vaginal Cuff PET/CT Finding Mimicking Recurrence After Multimodal Treatment of HPV-Independent Gastric-Type Endocervical Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report. Türk Jinekolojik Onkoloji Dergisi 26 2 91–97.
IEEE
[1]Y. M. Bayrak, S. Tunç, Y. Arslan, and G. Güner, “A False-Positive Vaginal Cuff PET/CT Finding Mimicking Recurrence After Multimodal Treatment of HPV-Independent Gastric-Type Endocervical Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report”, Türk Jinekolojik Onkoloji Dergisi, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 91–97, Sept. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA79FM58CX
ISNAD
Bayrak, Yiğit Mert - Tunç, Süleyman - Arslan, Yağmur - Güner, Gazi. “A False-Positive Vaginal Cuff PET CT Finding Mimicking Recurrence After Multimodal Treatment of HPV-Independent Gastric-Type Endocervical Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report”. Türk Jinekolojik Onkoloji Dergisi 26/2 (September 1, 2026): 91-97. https://izlik.org/JA79FM58CX.
JAMA
1.Bayrak YM, Tunç S, Arslan Y, Güner G. A False-Positive Vaginal Cuff PET/CT Finding Mimicking Recurrence After Multimodal Treatment of HPV-Independent Gastric-Type Endocervical Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report. Türk Jinekolojik Onkoloji Dergisi. 2026;26:91–97.
MLA
Bayrak, Yiğit Mert, et al. “A False-Positive Vaginal Cuff PET CT Finding Mimicking Recurrence After Multimodal Treatment of HPV-Independent Gastric-Type Endocervical Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report”. Türk Jinekolojik Onkoloji Dergisi, vol. 26, no. 2, Sept. 2026, pp. 91-97, https://izlik.org/JA79FM58CX.
Vancouver
1.Yiğit Mert Bayrak, Süleyman Tunç, Yağmur Arslan, Gazi Güner. A False-Positive Vaginal Cuff PET/CT Finding Mimicking Recurrence After Multimodal Treatment of HPV-Independent Gastric-Type Endocervical Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report. Türk Jinekolojik Onkoloji Dergisi [Internet]. 2026 Sep. 1;26(2):91-7. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA79FM58CX