The value of [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To our knowledge, there are no published data pertinent to the use of [(18F)]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in patients with natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma. The purpose of this study was to assess the value of FDG PET/CT in this aggressive type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

All patients with NK/T-cell lymphoma referred for FDG PET/CT at our institution from July 2001 to July 2006 were retrospectively studied. PET/CT examinations were blindly reviewed by 2 experienced readers. The results were compared with the status of the disease, which was determined after evaluation of biopsy, laboratory, clinical and conventional imaging examination, and follow-up results. PET/CT results were thereby classified as true-positive, true-negative, false-positive, or false-negative. The degree of FDG uptake in the positive lesions was semiquantified using maximum standard uptake value (SUV(max)).

RESULTS:

Twenty-one PET/CT examinations were performed in 10 patients with NK/T-cell lymphoma. For nasal disease, PET/CT was true-positive in 5 cases, true-negative in 15 cases, and positive but unconfirmed in 1 case. For extranasal disease, PET/CT was true-positive in 3 cases, true-negative in 16 cases, and false-negative in 2 cases. The mean SUV(max) in PET-positive lesions in nasal cavities or paranasal sinuses was 16 gm/mL (range, 5-25 gm/mL; median, 19.3 gm/mL). In extranasal disease, the mean SUV(max) was 10.9 gm/mL (range, 4.6-34.1 gm/mL; median, 5.6 gm/mL).

CONCLUSION:

Viable NK/T-cell lymphoma is intensely FDG hypermetabolic. PET/CT appears to be sensitive for the detection of disease in the nasopharynx and, to a lesser extent, in extranasal sites.

• Authors: Dimitrios Karantanis, Rathan M Subramaniam, Patrick J Peller, Val J Lowe, Jolanta M Durski, Douglas A Collins, Evangelos Georgiou, Stephen M Ansell, Gregory A Wiseman
• Journal: Clinical lymphoma & myeloma (Clin Lymphoma Myeloma) Vol. 8 Issue 2 Pg. 94-9 (Apr 2008) ISSN: 1557-9190 [Print] United States
• PMID: 18501102 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Radioisotopes
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18

Topics

• Adult
• Female
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
• Humans
• Killer Cells, Natural (diagnostic imaging)
• Lymphoma, T-Cell (diagnostic imaging)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Positron-Emission Tomography (methods)
• Radioisotopes