DETECTION OF UNSUSPECTED RECURRENT LYMPHOMA WITH FLUORODEOXYGLUCOSE POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGING AFTER INDUCTION CHEMOTHERAPY - A CASE-STUDY

We performed a fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomographic (FDG-P ET) study on a patient who had high-grade lymphoma thought to be in co mplete remission. The patient underwent the PET study before being con sidered for high-dose consolidation therapy because he was thought to be at high risk for relapse. The whole-body FDG-PET study revealed an unsuspected hypermetabolic mass in the lower spine that was not visual ized on computed tomographic (CT) scanning. The other laboratory Value s were normal, with the exception of mild lactate dehydrogenase elevat ion. Two weeks later, the patient developed low back pain, and magneti c resonance imaging showed a 2-cm paraspinal mass at the level of L4. B one-marrow biopsy confirmed recurrent lymphoma. Remission was not ac hieved after another chemotherapy regimen. Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography can be helpful in the restaging of lymphoma patie nts after induction chemotherapy and may help to detect early recurren ce in selected situations.