Interim18 F-FLUORO-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography scan/computed tomography scan in diffuse large B cell lymphoma-as a prognostic tool

Objective: to assess the role of interim [18f]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography scan/computed tomography scan in the management of diffuse large b-cell lymphoma in terms of progression-free survival and overall survival prediction. methods: the retrospective study was conducted at the shaukat khanum memorial cancer hospital,lahore,and comprised data of newly diagnosed patients of diffuse large b-cell lymphoma treated between january 2010 and june 2013.baseline characteristics of patients were documented and compared. response on interim positron emission tomography/computed tomography and end of treatment scan was taken a look at,and. progression-free survival and overall survival for positive/negative scans were calculated. data was also reviewed for sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value for relapse. spss 19 was used for statistical analysis. results: data of 119 patients was reviewed,and 87(73%) of them were males. overall median age was 33 years (range 18-50). interim scan was positive for 63(53%) patients and negative for 53(47%),and showed positive predictive value,negative predictive value,sensitivity and specificity for relapse of 35%,89%,79% and 55% respectively. two-years progression-free survival and overall survival for scan-positive patients was 66% and 72% compared to 88% (p=0.002) and 92% (p=0.005) for scan-negative patients. corresponding values at 2 years for patients having positive end-of-treatment scan were 35% and 44% against 94% (p<0.001) and 96%(p<0.001) for patients with negative scan. conclusion: interim positron emission tomography/computed tomography had high sensitivity and negative predictive value for relapse in diffuse large b-cell lymphoma. both interim and end-of-treatment scans were predictors of progression-free survival and overall survival. © 2016,pakistan medical association. all rights reserved.