title: Clinical significance of post-treatment18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in cervical lymph nodes in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the clinical significance of FDG uptake in cervical lymph nodes after treatment of patients with DLBCL.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 87 patients with DLBCL were enrolled. All patients had newly appeared FDG uptake in cervical lymph nodes on PET/CT during follow-up after cessation of therapy. Cervical lymph nodes were finally diagnosed as benign or malignant according to histopathological findings or follow-up PET. Clinical characteristics and PET findings were compared between groups and factors associated with malignant lesions were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 8 (9.2 %) patients with cervical lymph nodes with FDG uptake ultimately had malignancy. FDG uptake lymph nodes appeared significantly earlier in the malignant group than in patients with benign FDG uptake (p = 0.013). Primary nodal lymphoma was more frequent in patients with cancer spread than in those with benign FDG uptake in lymph nodes (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most cervical lymph nodes with FDG uptake (about 91 %) appearing after treatment of malignant DLBCL were ultimately benign. The elapsed time between the end of therapy and the appearance of cervical lymph nodes with FDG uptake and the primary sites of lymphomas are helpful clues in determining which cases are malignant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • About 91 % appearing after treatment of DLBCL were benign. • Elapsed time between therapy and FDG uptake was associated with malignancy. • Primary sites of lymphoma are helpful clues to determine malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Ajou University School of Medicine, Woncheon-dong, Yeongtong-gu, Gyeonggi-do, Suwon-si, Korea, 443-749. aysays77@naver.com.
authors.forename: Young-Sil
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Ajou University School of Medicine, Woncheon-dong, Yeongtong-gu, Gyeonggi-do, Suwon-si, Korea, 443-749.
authors.forename: Joon-Kee
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Ajou University School of Medicine, Woncheon-dong, Yeongtong-gu, Gyeonggi-do, Suwon-si, Korea, 443-749.
authors.forename: Su Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology-Oncology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Woncheon-dong, Yeongtong-gu, Gyeonggi-do, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology-Oncology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Woncheon-dong, Yeongtong-gu, Gyeonggi-do, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Woo
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D000072078:Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
keywords: Cervical lymph node; Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose; Malignancy; Positron emission tomography