Stages I-III follicular lymphoma: Role of CT of the abdomen and pelvis in follow-up studies

PURPOSE: to evaluate the efficiency of axial computed tomography (CT) in de tecting relapses of stage I, II, or III follicular lymphoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 328 patients with previously untreated st age I, II, or III follicular lymphoma were treated between 1978 and 1994. T wo hundred fifty-seven patients achieved complete response; 78 who relapsed form the basis of this study. Fifteen patients had stage I; 28, stage II; and 35, Stage III disease. Fifteen patients underwent radiation therapy; 12 , chemotherapy; and 51, radiation and chemotherapy. Medical records were re viewed to analyze the yield of abdominal and pelvic CT in detecting recurre nce relative to the yield of standard clinical, hematologic, and imaging st udies. A positive study was defined as one that led to or was abnormal at t he diagnosis of recurrence. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 101 months. Eleven relapses were detected ,only at abdominal, pelvic, or both abdominal and pelvic CT. CONCLUSION: Fourteen percent (11 of 78) of the relapses were detected solel y at abdominal and/or pelvic CT. Eleven (4.3%) of the 257 patients who achi eved complete response benefited from abdominal and pelvic CT. The yield of the routine use of abdominal and pelvic CT in follow-up studies appears to be low for stages I-III follicular lymphoma.