title: Early and late therapy response assessment with [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in pediatric Hodgkin's lymphoma: analysis of a prospective multicenter trial.
abstract: 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.
authors: 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
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Furth
authors: Ingo G
authors: IG
authors: Steffen
authors: Holger
authors: H
authors: Amthauer
authors: Juri
authors: J
authors: Ruf
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Misch
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Schönberger
authors: Carsten
authors: C
authors: Kobe
authors: Timm
authors: T
authors: Denecke
authors: Brigitte
authors: B
authors: Stöver
authors: Hubertus
authors: H
authors: Hautzel
authors: Günter
authors: G
authors: Henze
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Hundsdoerfer
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18