Comparison between Conventional Imaging Methods and PositronEmission Tomography in the Treatment of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Overview

Background.
Positron emission tomography with fluorodeoxyglucose offers the possibility to differentiate betweenlymphoma and nonmalignant tissue. The aim of this retrospective study was a comparison between PET andconventional imaging methods before and after therapy - during the follow-up of Hodgkin’s lymphoma.Methods and Results. The group of 94 patients with HL underwent 180 PET examinations. PET was performed in53 patients during initial staging of lymphoma. 119 PET studies were undertaken after therapy during the follow-up.Eight patients underwent PET examination for suspected relapse or progression of HL. Findings were verified bya follow-up in all patients and by histology in selected cases. PET and conventional imaging methods were positivein 42 of 53 (79 %) patients in initial stages. The stage of the disease was changed in 7 patients (13.2 %) accordingto PET. False negative findings were recorded in three cases and false positive in one case. Sensitivity of PET washigher compared to conventional imaging methods (92 % vs 87 %) in initial staging. PET and conventional imagingmethods were identical in 94.9 % of cases during the follow-up (77.3 % negative and 17.6 % positive findings).Sensitivity of PET during the follow-up after therapy was higher compared to conventional imaging methods (99.1 %vs 95.7 %). PET was positive in all eight cases in relapse/progression of HL and conventional imaging methods werepositive in only seven of eight cases.Conclusions. PET is a more sensitivemethod in initial staging, during follow-up and in suspected progression/relapseof HL than conventional imaging methods and it should be included into routine examination methods of HL.

Key words:
positron emission tomography, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, residual tumor.