The value of fourth and subsequent post-treatment 18F-FDG PET/CT scans in the management of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Issue 7 (July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Taghipour, Mehdi; Marcus, Charles; Jones, Shani; Sarangi, Rutuparna; Trahan, Tyler J.; Subramaniam, Rathan M.
• Is Part Of: Nuclear medicine communications. Volume 37:Issue 7(2016:Jul.)
• Publication Date: 2016-07
• Subjects: computed tomography -- follow-up -- non-Hodgkin lymphoma -- PET; Nuclear medicine -- Periodicals; 616.07575
• DOI: 10.1097/MNM.0000000000000504
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-3636

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To evaluate the impact of fourth and subsequent follow-up PET/computed tomography (PET/CT) scans in patients with non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL). Materials and methods: This retrospective study evaluated all biopsy-proven NHL patients who had more than three follow-up scans after completion of primary treatment from 2000 to 2013 at our academic center. Among 586 patients with NHL who had at least one fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose ( 18 F-FDG) PET/CT scan at our institution, a total of 77 patients with 208 fourth and subsequent follow-up 18 F-FDG PET/CT scans, were included in the study. The impact of these follow-up scans on the clinical assessment and the management of the patients was evaluated. Results: Among 208 fourth and subsequent follow-up scans, 33 were performed with a previous clinical suspicion of recurrence and 175 were performed without a previous clinical suspicion of recurrence. Fourth and subsequent follow-up PET/CT results were useful in excluding tumor in 27.3% of scan times when there was a clinical suspicion of recurrence and in identifying recurrence in 5.1% of scan times when there was no previous clinical suspicion of recurrence. Clinicians changed management after 36.4% (12/33) scans that were performed with previous clinical suspicion of recurrence and 9.2% (16/175) scans that were performed without previous clinical suspicion ( P =0.001). Conclusion: Fourth and subsequent follow-up PET/CT scans affect the treatment and management of patients with NHL and add value to clinical assessment and management, especially in patients with a previous clinical suspicion of recurrence.