title: Role of 18FDG-PET/CT in detecting relapse during follow-up of patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma.
abstract: The role of 18FDG-PET/CT during follow-up of patients affected by Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) in complete remission after treatment is not fully elucidated, since a wide use of 18F fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18FDG-PET/CT) in this setting could be limited by a relative high rate of false-positive results. Herein, we summarize a retrospective analysis of 27 patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma in complete remission after the first-line (n = 20) or salvage (n = 7) therapy receiving serial 18FDG-PET/CT scans during follow-up. Out of 165 scans, 13 were suspected for relapse, which was confirmed in seven patients. All relapses were correctly identified by 18FDG-PET/CT positivity, with a 100% sensitivity; false-positive rate was 46% and negative predictive value was 100%. True-positive findings were mostly associated with multiple sites, subdiaphragmatic involvement, and/or previous sites of disease. According to our results, we conclude that performing routine PET/CT scan during follow-up of those patients who are at high risk of relapse would be advisable, although caution must be adopted when interpreting PET/CT results due to the relatively high rate of false-positive findings. If FDG abnormal uptake is present at multiple nodal sites, subdiaphragmatic lymph nodes, or previous sites of disease, histological verification of PET abnormal findings is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Hematology and BMT Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. crocchiolo.roberto@hsr.it
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crocchiolo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fallanca
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giovacchini
authors.forename: A J M
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ferreri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Assanelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Verona
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pescarollo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bregni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ponzoni
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gianolli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fazio
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ciceri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18