Radiology 1998 Feb;206(2):475-81
Extranodal malignant lymphoma: detection with FDG PET versus CT.
Moog F, Bangerter M, Diederichs CG, Guhlmann A, Merkle E, Frickhofen N, Reske SN.
PURPOSE: To evaluate use of functional imaging with positron emission tomography
(PET) versus computed tomography (CT) for detection of extranodal lymphoma
spread. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-one consecutive and previously untreated
patients with malignant non-Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 43) or Hodgkin disease (n =
38) were examined with 2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) PET and
contrast material-enhanced CT. Concordant findings at both CT and FDG PET were
regarded as actual locations of disease; discordant results were resolved on the
basis of biopsy or follow-up results when possible. RESULTS: Forty-two lesions
were identified at both PET and CT, and 19 were verified with biopsy results.
PET demonstrated a further 24 lesions. Verification was possible in 15 of these
lesions with biopsy (n = 10), magnetic resonance imaging (n = 1), scintigraphic
(n = 1), or follow-up (n = 3) results. In 14 of these 15 lesions, PET findings
were confirmed (bone marrow, nine; spleen, three; other, two). Seven lesions not
visualized at FDG PET were identified at CT, six of which were verified with
biopsy (n = 2) or follow-up (n = 4) results. Five of these six CT findings were
found to be erroneous. In 13 patients, PET findings led to changes in tumor
staging. CONCLUSION: PET may provide more information about extranodal lymphoma
than does incremental CT.
