title: Positron emission tomography/computed tomography: diagnostic accuracy in lymphoma.
abstract: An accurate initial staging of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is critical for the selection of an appropriate treatment. Computed tomography (CT) remains the standard imaging technique, although it is based on anatomic criteria. Positron emission tomography (PET) with 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-d-glucose (FDG) provides useful functional information but requires anatomical correlation to localise lesions accurately. We have prospectively compared the accuracy of combined PET/CT with that of CT and PET alone at initial staging in lymphoma patients. Forty-seven newly diagnosed patients were evaluated. PET/CT was superior compared with CT and PET in nodal evaluation and detection of extranodal disease. Using a staging algorithm with PET/CT resulted in the disease stage being increased in 11 of 47 patients (10 NHL and 1 HL) (McNemar test P = 0.012). Therefore, a different treatment strategy based on PET/CT findings was suggested for seven patients (14.8%). PET/CT markedly improves accuracy in the diagnostic work-up of patients with lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain. hernandezlola@mac.com
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hernandez-Maraver
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hernandez-Navarro
authors.forename: Nieves
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gomez-Leon
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coya
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Vigil
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Madero
authors.forename: Immaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pinilla
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Martin-Curto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18