WHOLE-BODY FDG-PET IMAGING FOR STAGING OF HODGKINS-DISEASE AND LYMPHOMA

Accurate staging of Hodgkin's disease (HD) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is important for treatment management. In this study, the utilit y of 2-[F-18]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) whole-body PET was evaluat ed as an imaging modality for initial staging or restaging of 7 HD and 11 NHL patients, Methods: Whole-body PET-based staging results were c ompared to the patient's clinical stage based on conventional staging studies, which included combinations of CT of the chest, abdomen and p elvis, MRI scans, gallium scans, lymphangiograms, staging laparatomies and bone scans. Results: Accurate staging was performed in 17 of 18 p atients using a whole-body PET-based staging algorithm compared to the conventional staging algorithm in 15 of 18 patients, In 5 of 18 patie nts, whole-body PET-based staging showed additional lesions not detect ed by conventional staging modalities, whereas conventional staging de monstrated additional lesions in 4 of 18 patients not detected by whol e-body PET, The total cost of conventional staging was $66,292 for 16 CT chest scans, 16 CT abdominal/ pelvis scans, three limited MRI scans , four bone scans, five gallium scans, two laparotomies and one lympha ngiogram. In contrast, scans cost $36,250 for 18 whole-body PET studie s and additional selected correlative studies: one plain film radiogra ph, one limited CT, one bone marrow scan, one upper GI and one endosco py. Conclusion: A whole-body FDG-PET-based staging algorithm may be an accurate and cost-effective method for staging or restaging HD and NH L.