Early and late therapy response assessment with [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in pediatric Hodgkin's lymphoma: analysis of a prospective multicenter trial.
OBJECTIVE
In adult Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) risk stratification after early therapy response assessment with [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) seems to allow tailoring therapy with less toxicity for patients with adequate metabolic response. This study delivers the first prospective data on the potential of FDG-PET for response assessment in pediatric HL.


METHODS
FDG-PET was performed in 40 pediatric HL patients before polychemotherapy (PET-1), after two cycles of polychemotherapy (PET-2), and after completion of polychemotherapy (PET-3). Mean follow-up was 46 months (range, 26 to 72 months).


RESULTS
At early and late response assessment, the proportion of PET-negative patients was significantly higher compared with those patients with negative findings in conventional imaging methods (CIMs; PET-2, 26 of 40 v CIM-2, one of 40; P < .001; PET-3, 21 of 29 v CIM-3, four of 29; P < .001). Sensitivity and negative predictive value were 100% for early and late therapy response assessment by PET. Both patients suffering a relapse during follow-up were identified by PET-2/3, whereas one of these patients was not detected by CIM-3. PET was superior to CIMs with regard to specificity in early and late therapy response assessment (68% v 3%, and 78% v 11%, respectively; both P < .001). Specificity of early therapy response assessment by PET was improved to 97% by quantitative analysis of maximal standardized uptake value reduction using a cutoff value of 58%.


CONCLUSIONS
Pediatric HL patients with a negative PET in response assessment have an excellent prognosis while PET-positive patients have an increased risk for relapse.
Furth
Christian
C
Klinik für Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin, Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Universitätsklinikum Magdeburg A.ö.R., Leipziger Strasse 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany. christian.furth@med.ovgu.de
Steffen
Ingo G
IG
Amthauer
Holger
H
Ruf
Juri
J
Misch
Daniel
D
Schönberger
Stefan
S
Kobe
Carsten
C
Denecke
Timm
T
Stöver
Brigitte
B
Hautzel
Hubertus
H
Henze
Günter
G
Hundsdoerfer
Patrick
P
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18