title: Low-Dose PET/CT and Full-Dose Contrast-Enhanced CT at the Initial Staging of Localized Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphomas.
abstract: Computed tomography (CT) has been used as the reference imaging technique for the initial staging of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma until recent days, when the introduction of positron emission tomography (PET)/CT imaging as a hybrid technique has become of routine use. However, the performance of both examinations is still common. The aim of this work was to compare the findings between low-dose 2-deoxy-2-((18)F)fluoro-d-glucose ((18)F-FDG) PET/CT and full-dose contrast-enhanced CT (ceCT) in 28 patients with localized diffuse large B-cell lymphoma according to PET/CT findings, in order to avoid the performance of ceCT. For each technique, a comparison in the number of nodal and extranodal involved regions was performed. PET/CT showed more lesions than ceCT in both nodal (41 vs. 36) and extranodal localizations (16 vs. 15). Disease staging according to both techniques was concordant in 22 patients (79%) and discordant in 6 patients (21%), changing treatment management in 3 patients (11%). PET/CT determined a better staging and therapeutic approach, making the performance of an additional ceCT unnecessary.
authors: PET Unit, IDI, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Aida
authors: A
authors: Sabaté-Llobera
authors: PET Unit, IDI, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Montserrat
authors: M
authors: Cortés-Romera
authors: Department of Hematology, Hospital Duran i Reynals, Institut Català d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Santiago
authors: S
authors: Mercadal
authors: Department of Radiology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Hernández-Gañán
authors: Department of Hematology, Hospital Duran i Reynals, Institut Català d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Helena
authors: H
authors: Pomares
authors: Department of Hematology, Hospital Duran i Reynals, Institut Català d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: González-Barca
authors: PET Unit, IDI, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Gámez-Cenzano
keywords: 18F-FDG; diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; positron emission tomography/computed tomography; staging