18-Fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography report interpretation as predictor of outcome in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma including analysis of 'indeterminate' reports.
This study evaluates the predictive value of post-therapy 18-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), including indeterminate studies, following curative-intent therapy in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Consecutive patients from September 2002 to December 2005 were prospectively offered enrollment in an observational registry. Available FDG-PET reports after primary therapy were interpreted by hematologist-oncologists as positive, negative, or indeterminate. One hundred twenty-five patients with DLBCL had a median follow-up of 35.2 months. Ninety-three percent were treated with R-CHOP-like therapy. Twenty percent of PET reports were judged indeterminate. Event-free survival (EFS) at 3 years for the negative and indeterminate groups was 85% and 71%, respectively (p = 0.28 by log-rank). Overall survival (OS) at 3 years for negative, indeterminate, and positive groups was 89%, 88%, and 48%. Combining the pre-therapy International Prognostic Index (IPI) with the post-therapy FDG-PET result added to the predictive value of the study for patients. Three-year EFS for patients with low or low-intermediate IPI risk and an indeterminate FDG-PET report was 93%, while for those with high or high-intermediate pre-therapy IPI the 3-year EFS was 45% (p < 0.02). Interpreting FDG-PET reports following curative-intent chemotherapy in patients is informative but imprecise, and incorporation of pre-therapy prognosis can improve predictive utility.
Thomas
Alexandra
A
Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.
Gingrich
Roger D
RD
Smith
Brian J
BJ
Jacobus
Laura
L
Ristow
Kay
K
Allmer
Cristine
C
Maurer
Matthew J
MJ
Habermann
Thomas M
TM
Link
Brian K
BK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18