title: Richter Transformation of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Review of Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography and Molecular Diagnostics.
abstract: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a low-grade B-cell proliferative disease with a generally indolent course. In a few cases, it undergoes transformation and becomes a more aggressive malignancy, such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). This process, which is called Richter transformation (RT), is often detected too late and is associated with a poor prognosis. There are multiple molecular diagnostic approaches to detect RT in preexisting CLL. Metabolic imaging using 18-fluorine fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) can be a very useful tool for early detection of RT and which can hence allow for timely intervention, thereby improving the patient's chances of survival.
authors.affiliation: Imaging Informatics, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: Faiq
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shaikh
authors.affiliation: Medicine, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Amna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Janjua
authors.affiliation: 3rd Master Medicine, Catholic University of Leuven.
authors.forename: Frederick
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Van Gestel
authors.affiliation: Dermatopathology/Dermatology/Pathology, Private Practice, Beckley, WV.
authors.forename: Adeel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmad
keywords: cll; fdg; molecular; pet; richter; transformation