title: Role of limited whole-body PET/CT in pediatric lymphoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Performing true whole-body FDG PET/CT is standard practice in pediatric lymphoma staging and follow-up. In adults, imaging is typically limited whole-body PET/CT, which has advantages over true whole-body PET/CT, primarily decreased scanning time and decreased radiation. We hypothesize that in pediatric lymphoma, limited whole-body PET/CT is sufficient for routine follow-up when disease on the true whole-body staging study is confined to the limited whole-body field of view (FOV).
  
  
  METHODS
  True whole-body PET/CT studies performed for staging and follow-up of pediatric lymphoma patients between November 2004 and July 2009 at two tertiary pediatric referral hospitals were retrospectively reviewed. Abnormalities on the limited whole-body and additional true whole-body FOV were documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred seventy patients met the inclusion criteria (752 examinations). At staging, disease involved the limited whole-body FOV without involving the additional true whole-body FOV in 150. Of the 150, 145 had routine follow-up (508 examinations). In these patients, no new (18)F-FDG-avid disease was identified outside of the limited whole-body FOV on routine follow-up (positive predictive value, 0%, 95% CI, 0-0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The limited whole-body PET/CT for routine follow-up when disease is confined to the limited whole-body FOV at staging is appropriate. Given its definite advantages over true whole-body PET/CT, it is preferred.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle Children's Hospital, 98105, USA.
authors.forename: Marla B K
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Sammer
authors.forename: Barry L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Shulkin
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alessio
authors.forename: Marguerite T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Parisi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D051598:Whole Body Imaging; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18