FDG PET-CT in the management of primary breast lymphoma.
OBJECTIVE
Primary breast lymphoma (PBL) is a rare disease and its management differs from other breast cancers. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of FDG PET-CT in the management of PBL. We carried out 16 PET-CT scans and reviewed the literature.


METHODS
A total of 16 FDG PET-CT scans were done in 8 female patients with PBL with a median age of 49 years (range: 27-68). Of the 16 PET-CT scans, 1 scan was done for primary diagnosis and staging (1 patient), 2 for staging (2 patients), 7 for evaluation of treatment response (6 patients), and 6 for detecting recurrence (4 patients). PET-CT image interpretation and analysis were performed qualitatively (visually) and semiquantitatively using standardized uptake value (SUV). Absence of uptake in the postchemotherapy follow-up PET-CT scan was considered as a complete response, and a fall of more than 50% of baseline SUV was considered as a significant response.


RESULTS
One patient was successfully diagnosed to have PBL and staged using PET-CT. Two patients were correctly staged with the help of FDG PET-CT. Complete response was noted in all 6 patients (3 had a positive baseline scan and showed complete resolution of FDG uptake, the other 3 who did not have baseline PET-CT and lesions were detected on CT, and also showed complete resolution). Of the 4 patients evaluated for recurrence, 1 patient was positive and 3 patients were negative for recurrence in follow-up PET-CT scans done after 18, 22, and 24 months, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
FDG PET-CT has a definitive role in every step of management (diagnosis, staging, treatment response evaluation, and detection of recurrence) in patients with primary breast lymphoma.
Department of Nuclear Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Amburanjan
A
Santra
Rakesh
R
Kumar
Ramamohan
R
Reddy
Dhanapathi
D
Halanaik
Rajender
R
Kumar
Chandra Sekhar
CS
Bal
Arun
A
Malhotra
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18