The value of fourth and subsequent post-treatmen t 18F-FDG PET/CT scans in the management of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Mehdi Taghipour, Charles Marcus, Shani Jones, Rutuparna Sarangi, Tyler J. Trahan, Rathan M. Subramaniam

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

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 (18F-FDG) PET/CT scan at our institution, a total of 77 patients with 208 fourth and subsequent follow-up 18F-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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)699-704
Number of pages6
JournalNuclear medicine communications
Volume37
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016

Keywords

  • Computed tomography
  • Follow-up
  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
  • PET

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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