Patterns of use of 18-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography for initial staging of grade 1–2 follicular lymphoma and its impact on initial treatment strategy in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Outcomes database. Issue 10 (October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abou-Nassar, Karim E.; Vanderplas, Ann; Friedberg, Jonathan W.; Abel, Gregory A.; Niland, Joyce; Rodriguez, Maria A.; Czuczman, Myron S.; Millenson, Michael; Crosby, Allison; Gordon, Leo I.; Zelenetz, Andrew D.; Kaminski, Mark; Lacasce, Ann S.
• Is Part Of: Leukemia & lymphoma. Volume 54:Issue 10(2013:Oct.)
• Page Start: 2155
• Page End: 2162
• Publication Date: 2013-10
• Subjects: Leukemia -- Periodicals; Lymphomas -- Periodicals; 616.99419
• DOI: 10.3109/10428194.2013.770151
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1042-8194

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p>We describe the patterns of use of 18-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) for the initial staging of patients with newly diagnosed grade 1–2 follicular lymphoma (FL) and its potential impact on treatment. Data were obtained from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Outcomes database. Patients who presented between 1 January 2001 and 30 September 2009 with newly diagnosed grade 1–2 FL, with at least 6 months of follow-up, were included. We identified 953 eligible patients and 532 (56%) underwent FDG-PET as part of initial staging. Among patients who underwent FDG-PET for initial staging, 438 (82%) received early treatment compared to 259 (61.5%) of those staged without FDG-PET (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.0001). Of all patients with stage I FL (<italic>n</italic> = 100), 47% were treated with radiotherapy (RT) alone, and the choice of initial treatment strategy for stage I FL did not vary significantly by use of FDG-PET (<italic>p</italic> = 0.22). The use of FDG-PET for staging of FL is widespread and is associated with a greater proportion of patients receiving early therapy. Given the widespread use and high cost of FDG-PET, its clinical utility in stage I FL should be further evaluated.</p> </abstract>