F-18 fluoro-deoxyglucose (FDG) - PET in assessment of lymphoma - the first year at the Royal Adelaide Hospital

Full text: Lymphoma is the commonest clinical indication for FDG-PET world wide although published data for its effectiveness is limited. The aim of this study was to assess the incremental staging, restaging and therapy monitoring value of PET vs CT. The case notes and CT scan reports of patients having FDG-PET scans for lymphoma at the RAH were reviewed retrospectively. 625 PET scans on 548 patients had been performed at the RAH between 14 September 2000 and 1 November 2001. 142 scans (23%) were for 'lymphoma' in 99 patients (18%). Excluding remote external referrals, follow-up data was available for 73 patients (112 scans) with confirmed non-CNS lymphoma. Disease demonstrated by CT and PET was compared for each of the three major clinical indications for PET which were: 1) primary staging, 2) restaging for suspected recurrence and 3) assessment of therapy response. In 3 patients both CT and PET showed discordant and incremental disease sites. The most dramatic discordant additional disease findings usually occurred in PET scans performed for restaging. The major additional information provided by PET so far has been in restaging for suspected relapse where it frequently shows much more extensive disease than does conventional CT. Copyright (2002) The Australian and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine Inc