title: High rates of surveillance imaging for treated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: findings from a large national database.
abstract: We aimed to characterize surveillance imaging and circumstances of relapse for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Outcomes Database, a prospective cohort study collecting clinical and outcome data at seven comprehensive cancer centers. Patients presenting with newly diagnosed DLBCL in remission ≥3 months after initial therapy and who had accrued 2 years of follow-up were eligible for analysis (n = 625). The median number of imaging studies was 2.5/year (institutional range 0.5-3.5, p < 0.0001); 48.4% received only dedicated computed tomography (CT) scans, 14.6% received only positron emission tomography (PET)-inclusive modalities, 32.8% received a combination and 4.2% received no imaging. Among all eligible patients, 50 (8.0%) experienced relapse, and approximately one-quarter of subclinical relapses were detected through routine imaging. Our results suggest that despite limited data regarding its effect on outcomes, surveillance imaging is prevalent in DLBCL, and a majority of patients receive PET scans at some point during follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. Gregory_Abel@dfci.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Abel
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vanderplas
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Allison L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Crosby
authors.forename: Myron S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Czuczman
authors.forename: Joyce C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Niland
authors.forename: Leo I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Millenson
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Zelenetz
authors.forename: Jonathan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Friedberg
authors.forename: Ann S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: LaCasce
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012008:Recurrence; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D057832:Watchful Waiting / Q000706:statistics & numerical data