title: Positron emission tomography using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose for the evaluation of residual Hodgkin's disease mediastinal masses.
abstract: Given its obvious prognostic implications, the correct interpretation of the significance of any residual mediastinal mass following Hodgkin's disease (HD) treatment keeps maintaining its paramount importance. In this respect, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) is proving very effective for both active disease detection and relapse prediction. Twenty-nine consecutive HD patients, in whom computed tomography (CT) scan performed after therapy completion had documented a residual mediatinal mass of at least 2 cm, prospectively entered the study and underwent PET within 1 week from CT scan. With a median follow-up of 28 months from PET execution, no relapse was recorded among the 17 patients presenting with a negative PET. On the contrary, 9 of the 12 patients presenting with a positive PET relapsed/progressed within one year from PET execution. PET's negative and positive predictive values at 1 year were 100% and 75%, respectively. A negative PET seems to possibly exclude relapse in HD patient with a residual mediastinal mass. On the contrary, a positive PET result indicates a significantly higher risk of relapse. However, due to possible false positive results, a closer follow-up for all and a pathologic study in few selected patients is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, University Clinic, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. cpanizo@unav.es
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Panizo
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez-Salazar
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bendandi
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Calvillo
authors.forename: José Francisco
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Boán
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: García-Velloso
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rocha
mesh_terms: D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000032:analysis*; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D012008:Recurrence; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18