Abstract
Background: The role of [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) in follicular lymphoma (FL) staging is not yet determined. Patients and methods: The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of PET in the initial staging of FL patients enrolled in the FOLL05-phase-III trial that compared first-line regimens (R-CVP, R-CHOP and R-FM). Patients should have undergone conventional staging and have available PET baseline to be included. Results: A total of 142 patients were analysed. PET identified a higher number of nodal areas in 32% (46 of 142) of patients and more extranodal (EN) sites than computed tomography (CT) scan. Also, the Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) score increased in 18% (26 of 142) and decreased in 6% (9 of 142) of patients. Overall, the impact of PET on modifying the stage was highest in patients with limited stage. Actually, 62% (15 of 24) of cases with limited disease were upstaged with PET. Conclusions: The inclusion of PET among staging procedures makes the evaluation of patients with FL more accurate and has the potential to modify therapy decision and prognosis in a moderate proportion of patients. Further prospective clinical trials on FL should incorporate PET at different moments, and the therapeutic criteria to start therapy should be re-visited in the views of this new tool.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2108-2112 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Annals of Oncology |
Volume | 24 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Aug 2013 |
Keywords
- CT scan
- FDG-PET
- Follicular lymphoma
- Staging