title: The role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the early assessment of microvascularization in patients with aggressive B-cell lymphoma treated by rituximab-CHOP: a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the early evaluation of microvacularization in patients with aggressive B-cell lymphoma treated by R-CHOP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two patients with aggressive B-cell lymphoma underwent combined rituximab-CHOP treatment (CHOP: cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunomycin, vincristine, prednisonetreatment). Before the treatment and after the ﬁrst two cycles of R-CHOP, CEUS was performed to assess the microvascularization of tumors. In addition, PET/CT examination was also included in this study before and after the treatment. Ideal cut-off value of CEUS parameters was calculated using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to predict the treatment outcome. The response to treatment, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were then compared according to PET/CT and CEUS results. The correlation between CEUS parameters and PET/CT results was investigated based on these analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients were non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) with CD20 positive. The variations of CEUS parameters (peak intensity and mean intensity) at the mid-term of R-CHOP treatment signiﬁcantly associated with results of treatment response (P < 0.001), and were also positive correlation with PET/CT results (P = 0.001). The CEUS positive or negative results were determined by cut-off points of peak intensity and mean intensity (4.70 and 4.15dB). The median time of clinical follow-up was 35.4 months. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that PET/CT and CEUS were both good predictors for PFS and OS rate in these patients.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao J
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069283:Rituximab; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D003287:Contrast Media; D000069283:Rituximab