Radiology 2000 Jan;214(1):253-7
Aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma: early prediction of outcome with 67Ga
scintigraphy.
Front D, Bar-Shalom R, Mor M, Haim N, Epelbaum R, Frenkel A, Gaitini D, Kolodny GM, Israel
O.
PURPOSE: To evaluate use of gallium 67 scintigraphy early during chemotherapy to predict
the outcome in patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among
118 patients, 67Ga scintigraphy was performed after one cycle of chemotherapy in 51
patients, after a median of 3.5 cycles in 97 patients, and both in 30 patients. Computed
tomography (CT) was performed after a median of 3.5 cycles of treatment in 87 patients.
The failure-free survival was compared between patients with positive or negative 67Ga or
CT scans by using the log-rank test. Multivariate analysis helped determine the relation
between 67Ga scintigraphic and CT findings and the outcome. RESULTS: The differences in
failure-free survival between patients with positive versus negative 67Ga scans after one
cycle of treatment (P < .001) and at midtreatment (P < .001) were significant. There
was no statistically significant difference in failure-free survival between patients with
positive versus negative CT findings during treatment. In multivariate analysis, 67Ga
scintigraphy after one cycle (P < .045) and at midtreatment (P < .006) was an
independent factor associated with outcome. CONCLUSION: Gallium 67 scintigraphic findings
after one cycle of chemotherapy and at midtreatment are predictive of outcome in patients
with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma. CT findings are not predictive. Early 67Ga
scintigraphy during chemotherapy is a good indicator of patients who may benefit from a
change to a more aggressive treatment. A future study is necessary to investigate the
potential effect of early change of treatment.
PMID: 10644133
