Fluorodeoxyglucose-Positron Emission Tomography Predicts Bone Marrow Involvement in the Staging of Follicular Lymphoma.

CONCLUSION: In newly diagnosed FL, PET/CT-detected bone and splenic involvement is highly specific for a positive BMB, and very low SUV values (<2.0 SUVmax and < 1.4 SUVmean ) in the lumbar spine have a high NPV for a negative BMB. Routine BMB may be obviated in these patients. BMB remains necessary to definitively exclude bone marrow involvement in a large majority of patients with a negative PET. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Predicting early clinical failure in follicular lymphoma (FL) is important but difficult. Bone marrow involvement by FL is associated with early clinical failure, and determining this involvement is a key component of the initial staging. This study highlights that in certain patients, positron emission tomography/computed tomography is sufficient in determining bone or marrow involvement, without the need for a confirmatory bone marrow biopsy (BMB). An algorithm is provided based on our findings to help clinicians determine which patients would benefit from BMB and when it can be avoided. PMID: 32319706 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: The Oncologist - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Oncologist Source Type: research