[Clinical value of FDG PET for therapy monitoring of malignant lymphoma--results of a retrospective study in 72 patients].
OBJECTIVE
Of the present retrospective study was to validate the clinical value of FDG-PET for therapy control of malignant lymphoma.


METHODS
72 patients (41 non-Hodgkin lymphomas, 29 Hodgkin's disease, 2 unclassified) received static FDG-PET scans of initially involved regions (n = 53) or of the entire neck and trunk (n = 19) after therapy. CT imaging (n = 70) and serum LDH measurement (n = 64) were also performed. Results were validated either by biopsy (n = 7) or by clinical follow-up (n = 65). The predictive value of PET was analysed in relation to different prognostic factors (stage, recurrence status, number of prior therapy regimen).


RESULTS
PET obtained a sensitivity of 88%, a specificity of 83% and an overall accuracy of 85% for detection of residual disease. The values for CT were 84%, 31% resp. 54%, and for serum LDH 50%, 92% and 73%. The predictive value of PET was related to the prevalence of residual disease. PET predicted complete remission in more than 90% of patients with moderate risk (stage I-III, no relapse, no more than two different therapy regimens). In high risk patients, however, the negative predictive value of PET was 50-67%.


CONCLUSIONS
FDG-PET is more accurate than CT imaging and LDH measurement for therapy monitoring of malignant lymphoma. Therapy success can be reliably predicted in patients with moderate risk.
Cremerius
U
U
Kliniken für Nuklearmedizin, RWTH Aachen, Deutschland.
Fabry
U
U
Kröll
U
U
Zimny
M
M
Neuerburg
J
J
Osieka
R
R
Büll
U
U
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed